Elizabeth Lima Costa

streptococcus mutans : Examining Factors Underlying Bacterial Colonizationin Mother-child Dyads and Early Childhood Caries: Examining Factors Underlying Bacterial Colonization

This study investigated the association between colonization of mother-child dyads with Streptococcus mutans (SM) and early childhood caries (ECC), with consideration of the mediator and confounders, using a theoretical model. Four hundred mothers and their children from São Luís, Brazil, were included in the study. A diagram based on directed acyclic graphs was elaborated to analyze the association between SM colonization of the mother, mediated by child SM, and ECC. Other maternal (socioeconomic, waist circumference, sugar consumption, DMFT index, and visible plaque) and child factors (sugar consumption, visible plaque, and child age) composed the theoretical model. A total effect model (maternal SM on ECC) and a direct effect model, adjusted by the mediation effect of child SM (maternal SM via child SM) on ECC, were analyzed. The outcome of interest in this study was ECC (number of teeth with caries experience, dmft), which was analyzed as a discrete variable by Poisson regression. The Paramed test was used to analyze mediation. The following variables were associated with ECC in the total effect model: maternal SM, maternal waist circumference ≥80 cm, DMFT, maternal visible plaque, child age ≥4 years, and increased sugar consumption of the child (>3 times/day). In the direct effect model, high maternal SM levels remained associated with ECC, while moderate and high colonization of the child with SM was also associated with ECC. Child SM colonization just partially mediated the effect of maternal SM on ECC (33%). Thus, factors other than the mechanism of bacterial colonization should be considered in mother-child dyads, including eating habits, oral hygiene practices, and a family history of caries.

Association between early childhood caries and maternal caries status: A cross-section study in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the association between early childhood caries (ECC) and maternal caries status, and the maternal perception of ECC risk factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 77 mother-child pairs, the children ranging from 12 to 36 months of age and their mothers, who were seeking dental care at a health center in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. Data collection was conducted using a specific questionnaire for mothers. Oral clinical examination of the mother-child binomial to assess caries incidence, gingival bleeding (GB) and visible plaque was done. Home visits were performed in 10% of the sample in order to observe the environmental conditions, dietary habits and dental hygiene practices. Results: The findings showed that the caries prevalence in children was 22.5 times higher in the mother who had decayed tooth (prevalence ratio [PR] = 22.5, confidence interval [CI] 95% = 3.2-156.6, P < 0.001). GB also was observed in 14 mothers and children, the PR in pair was 12.2 (CI95% = 1.6-88.9, P < 0.001). The variables are related for the mother-child binomial in regression linear analysis. Conclusion: The maternal caries status was associated with ECC.

Proinflammatory cytokines in early childhood caries: Salivary analysis in the mother/children pair

HighlightsHigh consumption of added sugars has been associated with caries and obesity.VEGF were correlated with caries, waist circumference and sugar intake in mothers.IL‐6 are correlated with the severity of caries in the mother‐children pair. &NA; Hypothesis: Proinflammatory cytokines are increased in saliva of mother/children pairs with caries. Design: Case‐control study involving caries‐free children (n = 20) and children with early childhood caries (ECC) (n = 20), and their mothers (n = 40). The maternal variables analyzed were waist circumference (WC), decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) and sugar intake; and in the children were body mass index (BMI), def‐t and sugar intake. Salivary levels of VEGF, IL‐6 and TNF‐&agr; were analyzed of mother/children pairs. Results: In the mothers, salivary VEGF levels were correlated with DMFT (r = 0.35; p = .03), WC (r = 0.35; p = .02), and sugar intake (r = 0.32; p = .04). Higher salivary IL‐6 levels were also correlated with maternal DMFT (r = 0.45; p = .004) and WC (r = 0.32; p = .04). In the children, higher salivary VEGF levels were correlated with higher def‐t scores (r = 0.42; p = .008). Children with caries had a 63% higher median salivary VEGF and twofold higher mean IL‐6 levels compared to caries‐free children. Mothers of children with ECC showed higher mean of salivary IL‐6 levels compared to those of children without ECC (p = .03). Conclusion: Salivary proinflammatory cytokines are correlated with the severity of caries in the mother‐children pair. Obesity and excessive sugar consumption seem to underlie the associations between proinflammatory cytokines and caries in the family environment.