Evaluation of Children Caries Risk Factors: A Narrative Review of Nutritional Aspects, Oral Hygiene Habits, and Bacterial Alterations

Abstract

Dental caries is one of the most common diseases—both in adults and children—that occurs due to the demineralization of enamel and dentine by the organic acids formed from bacteria present in dental plaques through anaerobic metabolism of dietary sugars. The aim of this article is to provide a guideline to assess the risk of caries by looking for the main factors involved. Literature research was performed for studies that analyzed the factors most involved in the development of child caries, such as poor oral hygiene, bad eating habits (or food disorders), and an alteration of the oral bacterial flora—with an increase of Streptococci spp., Lactobacilli spp., Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Candida sake. It is therefore essential to assess the risk of caries in children, based on the assessment of risk factors, in order to be able to establish preventive and/or therapeutic approaches that will reduce or stop the development of dental caries. The use of fluoride products, products made from casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate, substituted zinc biomimetic hydroxyapatite products, or products containing self-assembling oligopeptide SAP-P11-4 are useful. In terms of the clinical approach, a communicative approach should be added to learn about the eating habits and the oral hygiene habits of the child and parents; in addition, the use of a simple method to frame the factors involved, and subsequently establish the risk of carious lesions in the child, allows the reduction of the DMFT (Decayed Missing Filled Teeth) or ICDAS (International Caries Detection and Assessment System) index on large scales.

The Effect of Dental Treatments in Caries Management on Stress and Salivary Protein Levels

“…Dental caries is a progressive and irreversible pathology occurring as a consequence of an imbalance that arises between protective and cariogenic factors in the oral cavity [ 1 ]. This chronic disease interests the whole population, irrespective of age, affecting both primary and permanent dentitions.…”

Effects of Educational Intervention on Dental Plaque Index in 9-Year-Old Children

“…On the other hand, strict observance of hygienic points and standard protocol will be more effective with parental supervision and education, and it is recommended that in future studies, parents' participation and support in carrying out the study should be motivated. In the next studies, in addition to using mechanical methods and face-to-face training for dental plaque control, it is suggested to use remineralizing agents, such as biomimetic zinc-substituted hydroxyapatite for the remineralization of the enamel surface and reduce the incidence of dental caries [ 19 ].…”

Fixed Orthodontic Treatment Increases Cariogenicity and Virulence Gene Expression in Dental Biofilm

“…Dental caries is one of the most common public health problems and is induced by multiple risk factors involving dental biofilm (also known as dental plaque), diet habits, oral hygiene, socioeconomic status, and related genetic disorders such as molar/incisor hypomineralization [ 1 ]. Dental caries occurs due to a substrate disruption of the bacterial community, as described in the “ecological plaque hypothesis”.…”