Oral Colonization of Streptococcus mutans in Six-month-old Predentate Infants

Abstract

We hypothesize that S. mutans colonization occurs more frequently in pre-term children due to their relative immaturity. In this study of 172 predentate, six-month-old infants, we found that 50% of pre-term and 60% of full-term children harbored S. mutans. The colonization was confirmed by repeat sampling. Although there were minor differences, factors associated with S. mutans infection in pre-term and full-term infants were generally similar. In both groups, increased frequency of sugar was ranked the most important factor (p < 0.001), followed by breast-feeding (p < 0.001), and habits which allowed saliva transfer from mother to infant (p < 0.01). By contrast, non-colonization of S. mutans was associated with multiple courses of antibiotics (p < 0.001). Compared with pre-term children, there were higher percentages of full-term who had night feedings and consumed sugar during sleep times. Mothers with infected infants had S. mutans levels > 5 x 10(5) CFU/mL saliva (p < 0.001), poorer oral hygiene, more periodontal disease, and lower socio-economic status (p < 0.02) and snacked frequently (p < 0.001), compared with mothers with non-infected infants.

Aleitamento materno e cárie do lactente e do pré-escolar: uma revisão crítica

“…ECC is more commonly found in children who live in poverty or in poor economic conditions, 7,11,[24][25][26][33][34][35][36][37] who belong to ethnical and racial minorities, 12,38 born to single Although the habit of dipping the pacifier in sugar is associated with early colonization by Streptococcus mutans in predentate infants, 49 a systematic review did not find any consistent correlation between the use of pacifiers and the development of ECC, regardless of the length of use of pacifiers and of the introduction of sweeteners or not. 50 Cariogenic role of human milk, cow s milk and milk-based formulas in infant feeding…”

Breastfeeding and early childhood caries: a critical review

“…Apesar de o hábito de adoçar a chupeta estar associado à colonização precoce por Streptococcus mutans em pré-dentados 49 , uma revisão sistemática não achou associação consistente entre uso de chupetas e desenvolvimento de CLPE, independentemente do tempo de sua utilização e da adição de adoçantes ou não 50 .…”

Streptococcus Mutans and Streptococcus Sobrinus are Able to Adhere and Invade Human Gingival Fibroblast Cell Line

“…However, tooth eruption seems not to be a necessary prerequisite for mutans streptococci acquisition as they have been detected in the oral cavity of predentate children of two-three months of age (14)(15)(16). Moreover, S. mutans invasiveness and persistence within human coronary artery endothelial cells have been recently demonstrated (17).…”