Abstract
Dental caries is a transmissible infectious disease in which mutans streptococci are generally considered to be the main etiological agents. Although the transmissibility of dental caries is relatively well established in the literature, little is known whether information regarding this issue is correctly provided to the population. The present study aimed at evaluating, by means of a questionnaire, the knowledge and usual attitude of 640 parents and caretakers regarding the transmissibility of caries disease. Most interviewed adults did not know the concept of dental caries being an infectious and transmissible disease, and reported the habit of blowing and tasting food, sharing utensils and kissing the children on their mouth. 372 (58.1%) adults reported that their children had already been seen by a dentist, 264 (41.3%) answered that their children had never gone to a dentist, and 4 (0.6%) did not know. When the adults were asked whether their children had already had dental caries, 107 (16.7%) answered yes, 489 (76.4%) answered no, and 44 (6.9%) did not know. Taken together, these data reinforce the need to provide the population with some important information regarding the transmission of dental caries in order to facilitate a more comprehensive approach towards the prevention of the disease.
Highlights
Dental caries is a transmissible infectious disease in which mutans streptococci (MS) are generally considered to be the main etiological agents[5,6,7,20,26]
MS are spread vertically in the population, mostly but not exclusively from mothers to their children, during a short period around 2 years of age . 5,6,16,18,26 Studies using phenotyping and/or genotyping methods strongly suggest that the mother is the major primary source of infection for children who carry S. mutans and/or S. sobrinus strains[1,9,17,26], and that saliva is the main vehicle by which transfer of MS may occur[8,13]
When they were asked whether dental caries could be transmitted from person to person, 376 (58.7%) answered yes, 218 (34.1%) answered no and 46
Summary
Dental caries is a transmissible infectious disease in which mutans streptococci (MS) are generally considered to be the main etiological agents[5,6,7,20,26]. 5,6,16,18,26 Studies using phenotyping and/or genotyping methods strongly suggest that the mother is the major primary source of infection for children who carry S. mutans and/or S. sobrinus strains[1,9,17,26], and that saliva is the main vehicle by which transfer of MS may occur[8,13]. New genotypes not detected in mothers have been reported to colonize children during longitudinal studies, suggesting that additional and extra-familial transmission sometimes occurs, perhaps from other caretakers[10,16,18,20,26]. Early acquisition of MS is a major risk factor for early childhood caries[4] and future caries experience[12,15,22]
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