Cause Of Caries Research Articles

Protection Factors and Risk Factors of Caries in Children Aged 10-13 Years in Ujung Tanah Sub-District, Makassar City, South Sulawesi

Background: Caries is one of the oral diseases that is often experienced by children around the world by 60%-90%, especially in low socioeconomic groups. The causes of caries are multifactorial, including socioeconomic level, age, gender, diet and oral hygiene. Sucrose or sugar commonly consumed is an important factor causing caries. Elementary school children are an age group that is very vulnerable to caries because they have poor behavior in maintaining oral and dental health. Aim: Knowing the protection factors and risk of caries in children aged 10-13 years. Method: The study was conducted in September 2022 - March 2023 on elementary school students aged 10-13 years in 3 (three) elementary schools in Ujung Tanah District, Makassar City, South Sulawesi Provision. The number of samples at SD Hang Tuah was 64 people, SDN Ujung Tanah 54 people, and SDN Cambaya 49 people with a total sample of 167 people with quantitative research methods using questionnaires. Results: The average value of protection factor against caries in SD Hang Tuah was 66.8%, SDN Ujung Tanah 72.5%, and SDN Cambaya 64.2%. The protection factor against caries in the three schools still needs to be improved. The average value of risk factors for caries in SD Hang Tuah was 33%, SDN Ujung Tanah 29.3%, and SDN Cambaya 32.7%. Risk factors for caries in the three schools still need to be reduced. Conclusion: The protection factor still needs to be improved while the risk factor still needs to be lowered by the three elementary schools. In addition, this study also found caries rates in the three schools in the very high category with a caries index of >6.6.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LIFESTYLE AND ORAL HEALTH

Many cultural practices, conventions, and tenets make up people's lifestyles. Healthful behaviors are necessary for good health. Poor nutrition, inactivity, smoking, obesity, and diabetes are major causes of tooth decay and gum disease. This study compared the dental health of affluent and underprivileged people by examining their lifestyles. A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2020 and January 2021 to compare the dental health and lifestyle behaviors of people from different socio-economic classes. Low-SEC students were selected from a public university in Lyari, while high-SEC students were selected from a private medical school. The study used a standardized questionnaire to assess socio-economic status and lifestyle behaviors such as sleep and leisure and conducted thorough extra- and intra-oral examinations to report dental caries prevalence. The data was analyzed using SPSS 23. The most significant factor in the high prevalence of dental caries (p<0.05) in the low socio-economic group was the time spent watching television. There was also no correlation between the other factors, such as interest in reading or computer use. This study suggested examining lifestyle and socio-economic status's effects on oral health. Health awareness, dental treatment availability, and socio-economic level affect oral health practices and lifestyle. TV harms teeth. Thus, oral health and disease prevention require healthy and active lifestyles in young children and adults. This study linked dental health to socio-economic status. Income and education are risk factors for poor oral health.

The combined effect of pit and fissure sealant application and oral health education on oral health status of children aged 6–9 years: a 12-month follow-up study in Northeast China

BackgroundChildren aged 6–9 years are vulnerable to dental caries due to age-related limitations and a lack of adequate knowledge regarding oral health and hygiene practices. This study aimed to establish a cohort of children aged between 6 and 9 years and conducted a 12-month follow-up to examine the combined effect of pit and fissure sealant (PFS) application and oral health education on their oral health status.MethodsA cohort study with 12-month follow-up was conducted in Liaoning province, China. A multi-stage stratified cluster sampling approach was employed in the study. The enrolled 6- to 9-year-old children were all from the selected primary schools, who had resided in the designated area for at least 6 months. Children who were unable to cooperate with the examiner or without informed consent from their guardians were excluded. Experienced dental professionals examined the oral health status of primary school children aged 6–9 years. All children and their guardians were mandated to complete a questionnaire (qualitative data) at the beginning of the study. In the experiment group, children underwent PFS application and chairside oral health education. Clinical examinations and questionnaire surveys were repeated at the 12-month follow-up. The chi-square test and binary logistic regression were conducted to investigate the potential risk factors associated with dental caries prevalence (dependent variable). Independent variables were items from the questionnaire (such as living place, parents’ education level and children’ birth weight). The significant variables identified in the chi-square tests were subsequently included in the binary logistic regression analysis.ResultsA total of 4,085 children aged 6–9 years were included in the study, with 1805 participants assigned to the experiment group and 2280 to the control group. At baseline, the caries rates of the experimental and control group were 77.95% and 80.35%, respectively without any statistically significant differences. However, at the 12-month follow-up, the caries rate in the experimental group (83.65%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (86.62%) (P < 0.05). The results from the binary logistic regression analysis indicated that parents with a college degree and children in the experimental group exhibited lower caries rates. Conversely, higher caries rates were associated with the consumption of sweet beverages and foods more than once a day and a lack of knowledge regarding the causes of caries (P < 0.05).ConclusionsIn Liaoning, China, children aged 6 to 9 years exhibited a high prevalence of dental caries. Several factors, including the parent’s education level, the frequency of consuming sweet beverages and foods, and the children’s understanding of the cause of caries, significantly affected the caries prevalence rates. The implementation of PFS application and oral health education effectively reduce the caries rate among the surveyed children.

Tooth Brushing Skills and Personal Hygiene Performance Modified (PHP-M) Index in preschool children

Background: The prevalence of caries in children aged 5-6 years is 92.6% with a def-t index of 8.43, meaning that young children in Indonesia have experienced 8-9 cavities per child. The high number of dental and oral diseases currently is greatly influenced by several factors, one of which is the behavior of people who do not realize the importance of maintaining dental and oral health. Brushing teeth is a simple act of removing plaque and food residue with a brush and toothpaste, because plaque and food residue are the main causes of dental caries. The Personal Hygiene Performance Modified (PHP-M) Index is an indicator for measuring dental hygiene status in mixed dentition. Objective: The aim of this research is to analyze the relationship between tooth brushing skills and the Personal Hygiene Performance Modified Index in preschool children in Pondok Labu Village, Cilandak District, South Jakarta in 2023. Method: This research uses observational analytical methods with a cross-sectional design. The sampling technique for this research used a purposive sampling technique of 66 respondents. The data collection instrument uses a tooth brushing observation sheet to measure teeth brushing skills and the Personal Hygiene Performance Modified Index. Data analysis used the chi-square test with the SPSS application. Results: Chi-square test results show that tooth brushing skills influence the Personal Hygiene Performance Modified Index in Preschool children (p=0.022). Conclusion: there is a relationship between tooth brushing skills and the Personal Hygiene Performance Modified Index in preschool children Keywords: Tooth brushing skills, PHP-M Index, Preschool Children

Virulence factors analysis and determination of the suitable chemical agent to inhibit Streptococcus mutans growth and biofilm formation

Streptococcus mutans is one of the most important causes of tooth decay and oral diseases, and it has received wide attention from researchers worldwide. The present work aimed to investigate, evaluation and comparisons effect of the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm property of some commercial compounds (chlorhexidine, hyaluronic acid, sodium fluoride and silver nanoparticles) against oral bacteria pathogens of S. mutans. In this work, S. mutans ATCC 25175 was used and its virulence factors were analyzed using Seed Viewer and The Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD). The antibacterial susceptibility testing (AST) confirms effects of chlorhexidine mouthwash on S. mutans ATCC 25175 beggar than all components. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and Minimum biofilm inhibition concentration (MBIC) of the commercial compounds were determined. The statistical analysis was performed using One-Way ANOVA (Tukey test). The VITEK2system was used to confirm the biochemical features of S. mutans ATCC 25175 and susceptibility testing was done to compare the results with Seed Viewer and CARD analysis. The findings showed that The MICs, MBCs, and MBIC means of chlorhexidine against S. mutans ATCC 25175 was 0.0079, 0.0038, and 0.0039 μg/mL respectively, where its biological activity was significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to other commercial compounds included in this study. The S. mutans strain used in this study showed sensitivity to all tested antibiotics and the Seed Viewer and CARD reported that it has several virulence factors such as adhesion genes (hsp33, Cpa, PrtF, PrtF2, MsmRL, Nra, SOF, LepAL, Spy0135, and RofA) and antibiotic-resistant genes (vanY, vanT, and mdeA). This study concluded that chlorhexidine was the best in inhibiting S. mutans growth as well as preventing biofilm formation, and the study recommends further investigation about antibiotic resistance genes and susceptibility profile.

Knowledge and Attitude of Specialist Hospital Health Care Workers to Dental Services in Benin City.

Objective: To examine the knowledge and attitude to dental services among Health Care Workers in a specialist hospital setting.&#x0D; Methods: This descriptive study was carried out among all cadres of workers in Edo Specialist Hospital (ESH); a government-owned secondary health facility located in Benin City. A structured online questionnaire created using Google forms was used to collect data anonymously from participants. The online form extracted information on demographic characteristics, oral health awareness, pattern of dental visits, and utilization of dental services at Edo Specialist Hospital. The data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 26.0 for frequency distribution and cross tabulation. Test for statistical significance was done using chi-square statistics.&#x0D; Results: Majority of the participants had never visited a dentist before (59, 54.6%). Majority (48, 44.4%) of the respondents reported that they had not seen the need to visit. Among the respondents, the commonest reasons for previous dental visits were toothache (15, 13.9%) and Stains and deposits on the teeth (13, 12.0%). Majority (76, 70.4%) of respondents had a good or fair understanding of the causes of dental caries. All participants (108,100%) were aware that there was a dental clinic at Edo Specialist Hospital (ESH). However, majority (86, 79.6%) had never visited it. Among the respondents, the commonest reason given for not attending the dental clinic at ESH was that they never saw the need to visit (54, 50.0%). On the other hand, the commonest reasons given for visiting the dental clinic at ESH were toothache (12, 11.2%) and Stains and deposits on the teeth (5, 4.7%). There was a significant relationship between the Staff cadre and previous dental visits.&#x0D; Conclusion: Knowledge of dental care and service utilization was poor. Clinically indicated dental visit was seen among healthcare workers in a specialist healthcare facility&#x0D; &#x0D; dental clinic

Bacterial Community Modifies Host Genetics Effect on Early Childhood Caries

By age 5, approximately one-fifth of children have early childhood caries (ECC). Both the oral microbiome and host genetics are thought to influence susceptibility. Whether the oral microbiome modifies genetic susceptibility to ECC has not been tested. We test whether the salivary bacteriome modifies the association of a polygenic score (PGS, a score derived from genomic data that summarizes genetic susceptibility to disease) for primary tooth decay on ECC in the Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia 2 longitudinal birth cohort. Children were genotyped using the Illumina Multi-Ethnic Genotyping Array and underwent annual dental examinations. We constructed a PGS for primary tooth decay using weights from an independent, genome-wide association meta-analysis. Using Poisson regression, we tested for associations between the PGS (high versus low) and ECC incidence, adjusting for demographic characteristics (n = 783). An incidence-density sampled subset of the cohort (n = 138) had salivary bacteriome data at 24 mo of age. We tested for effect modification of the PGS on ECC case status by salivary bacterial community state type (CST). By 60 mo, 20.69% of children had ECC. High PGS was not associated with an increased rate of ECC (incidence rate ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83–1.42). However, having a cariogenic salivary bacterial CST at 24 mo was associated with ECC (odds ratio [OR], 7.48; 95% CI, 3.06–18.26), which was robust to PGS adjustment. An interaction existed between the salivary bacterial CST and the PGS on the multiplicative scale (P = 0.04). The PGS was associated with ECC (OR, 4.83; 95% CI, 1.29–18.17) only among individuals with a noncariogenic salivary bacterial CST (n = 70). Genetic causes of caries may be harder to detect when not accounting for cariogenic oral microbiomes. As certain salivary bacterial CSTs increased ECC risk across genetic risk strata, preventing colonization of cariogenic microbiomes would be universally beneficial.

Antimicrobial Efficiency of Different forms of Tea Extract (Camellia sinensis) against Cariogenic Pathogens

Introduction: Dental caries is a frequent chronic infectious condition in the general population. Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus play a significant part in the cause of dental caries. Various antimicrobials have been tried to prevent these microorganisms. Traditional herbal medicine extracted from plants has been employed as a remedy. Among them, tea leaf extract showed promising antimicrobial properties against infections. Aims: The current study was designed to assess the antibacterial activity of various types of tea extract against cariogenic microorganisms. Methods: S. mutans and L. acidophilus were grown in this in-vitro experimental study and maintained in their respective agars. Three different concentrations of 250 mg/ml aqueous, 250 mg/ml ethanolic, and 250 mg/ml aqueous with sugar solutions were prepared from Japanese green tea, Oolong Chinese tea, and Sabah black tea. Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to assess the antibacterial activity of tea extracts. As positive and negative control groups, 0.2% chlorhexidine and 1% DMSO were employed. The zone of inhibition was determined in millimetres following a 24-hour incubation period at 37 °C. Results: Japanese green tea at its three different concentrations exhibited significantly higher mean zones of inhibition of 18.33 mm, 27.70 mm, and 18.96 mm, respectively, against S. mutans at p&lt;0.001 compared to L. acidophilus. In contrast, chlorhexidine showed 27.53 mm and 19.39 mm for S. mutans and L. acidophilus, respectively. Conclusion: Japanese green tea demonstrated superior antibacterial activity at its ethanolic concentration compared to other concentrations and the other two types of tea.

Intelligent Electrometric Device for Dental Caries Diagnosis

The article deals with the development of a medical device for high-precision measurement and automatic diagnosis of dental caries stage. The analysis of the composition and characteristics of tooth hard tissues, being the cause of caries and its development, is given. It has been established that the main cause of the carious process is the attack of acid-forming bacteria on tooth enamel. It is shown that the most promising method for caries diagnosis is the electrometric method, which consists in measuring electrical conductivity of the tooth hard tissue electrolyte. Conventional devices for the electrometric method implementation are described, using the direct current through the biological tissue of the tooth, but not taking into account the electrochemical features of the current flow. An electrochemical interpretation of the current flow through biological tissues and two electrodes with a polarity switch of these electrodes was performed, which makes it possible to exclude the effect of polarization of biological tissue and electrodes both for teeth in vivo and in vitro. An equivalent diagram of the current flow through the biological tissue is given, which value can reveal the stage of the carious process: intact enamel, pre-carious state, initial, superficial, medium and deep caries. The use of two current-carrying electrodes for measuring the electrical conductivity of biological tissues is considered: an active electrode made of stainless steel using a 10% solution of CaCl2 and a passive electrode also made of stainless steel and using an electrolyte of the biological tissue of a tooth (simulated by a 0.9% solution of NaCl). A comparative assessment of the tooth biological tissue electrolyte electrical conductivity and electrical conductivity of the active and passive electrode electrolytes was performed to assess the error of the electrometric method. A high-precision intelligent electrometric device (protected by a patent for an invention) has been developed, which allows automatic carious process stage determination by the value of the tooth biological tissue electrical conductivity; the operation of this device is described.

Amyloid hexapeptide prevent dental caries by antibiofilm formation

ObjectivesBiofilm formed by cariogenic microbes is the direct cause of dental caries, therefore, prevention of dental caries should be anti-biofilm-based. Previously, we found the amyloid hexapeptides efficiently inhibited biofilm formation by aggregating into amyloid fibrils agglutinating microbes. This study aimed to select the most stable amyloid hexapeptide GIDLKI (GI6) and study its anti-caries effect. MethodsBiofilms of multi-species bacteria, derived from mixed saliva, were cultured to evaluate the anti-biofilm formation effect of GI6. And then, the primary cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans (S.mutans) was cultured in BHI with various pH, gradient concentrations of sucrose, glucose, and calcium ions to evaluate the anti-biofilm formation effects of GI6. Then models of human enamel block caries and twenty male SPF-SD rat caries induced by S. mutans biofilm were constructed, and confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and micro-computed tomography were applied to investigate the anti-biofilm formation, anti-caries effects and use safety of GI6. ResultsGI6 could inhibit the multi-species bacteria biofilm formation and remained effective in anti-biofilm activity against S. mutans in environments closely related to caries. GI6 suppressed S. mutans biofilm formation and thus prevented or alleviated the development of caries in human tooth blocks and rat teeth. GI6 did not affect the intestinal flora, serum biochemical parameters, and the pathological changes of various organs. ConclusionsAmyloid hexapeptides, including but not limited to GI6, are novel effective anti-caries agents that can be used to prevent dental caries safely. Clinical significanceThis study explored the anti-biofilm formation and anti-caries effect of GI6 in vitro, highlighting the anti-biofilm formation therapy for dental caries and setting a foundation for the practical application of GI6 for the treatment of dental caries.

Description of Dental Caries in Primary Molars and the Effect of Giving Dental Health Education on Dental and Oral Hygiene in Preschooler

Caries is a tooth surface disease characterized by demineralization caused by acids produced by bacteria during the metabolism of sugar food. Molars are the primary teeth that are most prone to caries. One of the causes of caries is poor dental and oral hygiene. Preschoolers have a lower awareness of and adherence to oral hygiene, increasing the risk of caries. The objective of this study was to examine the caries description of primary molars as well as the effect of dental health education on dental and oral hygiene in preschooler. This study was pre-experimental, with a one-group pretest-posttest design model and a purposive sampling technique. The sample size was 66 children aged 4 to 6 years who attended five preschool facilities in the agro-industrial environment in Arjasa District. SPSS was used to analyze data obtained from objective examinations and questionnaires. The findings included the distribution of primary molars with the most caries-free category in the maxillary first and second primary molars, the distribution of caries in primary molars with the category of enamel caries spread evenly across all maxillary and mandibular primary molars, the distribution of caries in primary molars with the categories Dentin and pulp caries were most common in mandibular first and second primary molars, and the provision of dental health education could improve dental and oral hygiene in preschooler.

Dental Caries in Relation to Sugar Consumption Among Children, A Study from Public Sector Hospital of Southern Punjab, Pakistan

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dental caries among the children presenting in a public dental hospital of South Punjab, Pakistan, as dental caries has been one of the most prevalent diseases among children all around the world. Different factors play a significant role in caries incidence, sugar intake being the most important one. Caries not only leads to dental pain, but also effects a child’s body functions, productivity and growth. This study evaluates the factors responsible for caries incidence among children. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Nishtar Institute of Dentistry, Multan, Pakistan from August, 2022 to December, 2022. Data were collected on a specifically designed questionnaire. A total of 370 participants of age range between 3 to 12 years were chosen for this study. Consent from their parents was taken. The data were analyzed by using SPSS 22 and applying Eta-square test and Pearson’s correlation. Results: Gender had no significant effect on DMFT score with p-value of 0.3. Type and frequency of sugar intake had a significant effect with p-value of 0.00 for both. Age and DMFT were found to have a negative linear relationship. Conclusion: Increased refined sugar intake was the leading cause of dental caries among children of local population of South Punjab. Keywords: Dental caries, Caries, Children, Sugar Intake

Dental Caries a Risk Factor for Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Introduction: Streptococcus mutans is a known cause of dental caries that contains a collagen-binding protein, Cnm, and exhibits inhibition of platelet aggregation and matrix metalloproteinase-9 activation. This strain has been linked to aggravation of experimental intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and may be a risk factor for ICH. The purpose of this study was to test the association between dental caries and incident ICH. Methods: The presence of dental caries and periodontal disease was assessed in subjects from the Dental Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (DARIC) study without prior stroke or ICH. This cohort was followed for incident ICH over a period of 10 years. Cox regression was used to compute crude and adjusted hazards ratio from the dental assessment. Results: Among 6,315 subjects, dental surface caries and/or root caries were recorded in 1,338 (27%) subjects. Of those, 7 (0.5%) had incident ICH over a period of 10 years following the visit 4 assessment. Of the remaining 4,977 subjects, 10 (0.2%) had incident ICH. Those with dental caries versus those without dental caries were slightly younger (mean age 62.0 ± 5.7 vs. 62.4 ± 5.6, p = 0.012), had a greater proportion of males (51 vs. 44%, p < 0.001), African Americans (44 vs. 10%, p < 0.001), and were hypertensive (42 vs. 31%, p < 0.001). The association between caries and ICH was significant (crude HR 2.69, 95% CI 1.02–7.06) and strengthened after adjustment for age, gender, race, education level, hypertension, and periodontal disease (adjusted HR 3.88, 95% CI 1.34–11.24). Conclusion: Dental caries is a potential risk for incident ICH after caries detection. Future studies are needed to determine if treatment of dental caries can reduce the risk of ICH.

An In-Vitro Analysis of Root Fracture Strength Using Single File Systems.

Aim Root canal obturation during endodontic therapy supports the root canal space and helps the extra tooth structure resist fracture.Some believe endodontic-treated teeth are more likely to break than natural teeth. The most common causes of tooth decay are endodontic treatment's extensive tooth structure loss and coronal and radicular dentin drying. Materials and methods Two hundred removed human permanent mandibular first molars were allowed to be stored in isotonic saline solution for a maximum of 72 hours. The collection, storing, sterilizing, and handling of the samples were done per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)guidelines. Out of a total of 200 newly removed mandibular first molars, 120 teethwere finally gathered, sterilized, and kept in 1% thymol in normal saline at 30 degrees Celsius. The access cavity was prepared, and the pulp chamber was cleaned and debridedusing an ultrasonic scaler tip while being irrigated with regular saline. A digital radiograph was taken after a 6# K file was placed to the working length in the mesiobuccal canal.Based on their weights, the samples were dispersed equally across the sixgroups (n=20). They looked inside them to ensure that the root morphology was normal and that the canal was open and free of any abnormalities, damage, or fillings. They looked at the curvature of the mesial root and chose samples with a curvature of 20-35 degrees. The mesial roots were dissected, labeled, and put in a different location. Results Overall, the experimental group'sincidence of buccolingual fractures was 55%, making it the most prevalent fracture type. The mesiodistal type of fracture had a 35% incidence rate, which was the second most prevalent. We found that comminuted and transverse fractures occurred in only 15% and 5% of patients, respectively, of all fractures.Both the test and the control groups had a disproportionately high number of buccolingual fractures. When comparing the root fracture loads of the two experimental groups, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) Conclusion Within this study's restrictions and standardization techniques, it can be concluded that the single file system-prepared roots' resistance to fracture was comparable to that of the control group. It is recommended to conduct additional research on these single file systems using different metrics and to assess them in a clinical setting.

A Unique Association of Recurrent Swollen Lymph Nodes and Sweet Products in Pediatrics: A Cross Sectional Analysis in Rural Population of KPK

Introduction: The current study was aimed to investigate the association of dental caries with sweet products (especially sweetened milk at night) with lympha- denopathy in pediatrics. There is a well established mechanism of sweets with dental caries, and such caries can be the cause of recurrent lymphadenopathy. Methodology: A total 201 patients were assessed at pediatric and dental clinic, patients of ages 1 to 5 years having recurrent lymphadenopathy and dental caries were included while the rest were excluded. They were evaluated for a number of parameters including dental caries grading, raised TLC, body temperature, pain, addiction towards sweets, hunger status, difficulty in chewing, sleep habits, social behavior, while their parents were interviewed regarding awareness about dental caries. Results: It was observed that 90% of the patients were addicted to sweets, and 79% were having grade 4 dental caries, 82% were having aggressive behavior, 91% were having pyrexia, 94% were having raised TLC, 75% were in severe pain, 88% were facing difficulty in chewing solid food, 61% were underweight, 58% were anorexic, while 98% of the parent were not having any proper knowledge about caries development. The practical implication of the study is to develop new strategies to minimize the consumption of sugary products that are the ultimate cause of dental caries. Such caries are then responsible for a number of issues including swollen lymph nodes. Conclusion: All these issues may have a worst impact on the social, physical and mental growth of children. As all the patients were having recurrent lymphadenitis, yet it can be claimed that dental caries are among the primary causes. Keywords: Dental caries; Lymphadenopathy; Pediatrics; Street sweets; Sweetened Milk

건강신념모델(HBM)을 적용한 유아교육기관의 구강건강교육 프로그램 개발 연구

Objectives In this study, the purpose of developing oral education programs for early childhood educational institutions applying the health belief model was to lay the foundation for continuous and systematic oral health education in early childhood education institutions.&#x0D; Methods Through the literature review stage, the necessity of oral education program development research and research plan are established, and the needs of early childhood teachers, principals, parents, and dental hygiene experts are surveyed, analyzed and reflected to provide continuous oral education in early childhood education institutions. The health belief model (HBM) was applied to the possible oral education objectives, educational goals, educational contents, and teaching and learning methods. The suitability was verified by early childhood education experts and dental hygiene experts, and qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods for teachers and infants were constructed in the evaluation method.&#x0D; Results This program consists of 17 sessions, by modifying and supplementing the health belief model appropriately for oral education, to have sensitivity to one's own oral health, to recognize the seriousness of the cause of dental caries, and to recognize the benefits arising from good oral health habits. The program consisted of procedures of recovering oral health obstacles, and acquiring a sense of self-efficacy.&#x0D; Conclusions Through this study, children in early childhood education institutions check their oral conditions and based on this, they can expand and change their awareness of healthy oral care to practice and maintain behaviors for healthy oral hygiene. The significance of this study can be found in that it has prepared a sustainable oral education program that allows.

Effectiveness of Purple Sweet Potato Extract and Disclosing Substance for Plaque Identification

Oral hygiene is an indicator of oral and dental health which can be assessed based on the presence or absence of organic deposits, such as pellicle, materia alba (dental deposit), food residue, calculus, and dental plaque. Plaque is the cause of tooth decay among the world's population. Plaque on the tooth surface can be used as an indicator of oral hygiene. Poor cleaning can lead to stickier plaque and tartar after calcification. The thin plaque is almost the same as the color of the teeth, so that plaque cannot be seen with the naked eye. The presence of plaque that is formed from contact with oral fluids can be detected by using certain dye. This study aims to determine the Effectiveness of Purple Sweet Potato Extract and Disclosing substance for Plaque Identification among the children in Aisyah Orphanage, Tilatang Kamang Sub-District, Agam District. This was a quasi-experimental study with a post-test-only design. The samples of this study were 30 children at Aisyah Orphanage, Tilatang Kamang Sub-District, Agam District, with the inclusion criteria of children with permanent teeth and index teeth. The samples were selected through total sampling technique. The results showed that after applying purple sweet potato extract to the children at Aisyah Orphanage in Bukittinggi City, most of them had the Patient Hygiene Performance index (PHP) in the moderate criteria (50%). Furthermore, after applying disclosing substances to the children at Aisyah Orphanage in Bukittinggi City, most of them had the PHP index in the poor criteria (56.7%). The t-test independent statistical test results obtained a p-value of 0.000 (p &lt;0.005), indicating a significant difference between sweet potato extract and disclosing substance. Disclosing substance was more effective than purple sweet potato extract in identifying plaque on the tooth surface. Further study is recommended to apply purple sweet potato extract with different concentrations as an alternative ingredient to identify plaque on the tooth surface.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF MOTHER'S BEHAVIOR ABOUT BOTTLE MILK FEEDING WITH CARIES LEADING IN SCHOOL

Rampant caries is a multifactorial disease that interacts with each other. Factors in the incidence of dental caries include factors from food, oral hygiene, and habits that are not in accordance with health such as eating food and feeding through bottles. In addition, parents' misunderstanding of the causes of caries, such as using milk, further exacerbates the occurrence of rampant caries in children. This study aims to determine the relationship between mother's behavior regarding bottle feeding with rampant caries in TK Negeri 7 Sabang City. This research is analytic with cross-sectional approach. Sampling used total sampling, namely all 45 children of TK Negeri 7 Sabang City and their mothers as respondents, by conducting dental examinations on children and interviews with mothers. The research instrument used a diagnostic set and a questionnaire. The results of the study were tested statistically using the SPSS program with a chi-square test (a = 0.05). It can be concluded that there is a relationship between mother's behavior about bottle feeding and rampant caries in TK Negeri 7 Sabang City. It is recommended to further improve good behavior towards children when giving bottle milk to avoid rampant caries.

Targeting Cariogenic Streptococcus mutans in Oral Biofilms with Charge-Switching Smart Antimicrobial Polymers.

Cariogenic biofilms produce strong acidic microenvironments, which is the primary cause of dental caries. Streptococcus mutans is a dominant species in cariogenic biofilms. Herein, we report a pH-responsive, charge-switching smart copolymer to selectively target and eradicate bacteria in cariogenic biofilms. To that end, the copolymer is designed to be activated in an acidic environment. The smart copolymer, Poly-1A, consists of ternary compositions of monomers with a cationic ethyl ammonium group, a carboxylic group, and a hydrophobic group in the side chains. The net charge of Poly-1A was charge neutral at neutral pH, but it switched to be cationic because the acidic carboxylate side chains were protonated and became neutral; however, the ammonium groups remained positive. Poly-1A with a net positive charge bound to the anionic surface of oral bacteria by electrostatic interactions and disrupted the bacterial membranes, causing bacterial death. Poly-1A reduced the cell viability of planktonic and biofilm S. mutans at pH 4.5, while it was not bactericidal at pH 7.4. Poly-1A did not reduce the cell viability of human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament stem cells for a 1 h incubation.

The inhibitory effect of dextranases from Bacillus velezensis and Pseudomonas stutzeri on Streptococcus mutans biofilm.

Dental caries is a breakdown of the teeth enamel due to harmful bacteria, lack of oral hygiene, and sugar consumption. The acid-producing bacterium Streptococcus mutans is the leading cause of dental caries. Dextranase is an enzyme that can degrade dextran to low molecular weight fractions, which have many therapeutic and industrial applications. The purpose of the present study was to isolate a novel dextranase-producing bacteria from a source (molasses). The cell-free extracts containing dextranases were tested as antibiofilm agents. Dextranase-producing bacteria were identified using phenotypic and genotypic methods such as 16S rRNA gene sequencing and enzymatic characterization. The highest six dextranase-producing bacterial isolates were Bacillus species. The best conditions for dextranase productivity were obtained after 72 hours of culture time at pH 7. The addition of glucose to the medium enhanced the production of the enzymes. The cell-free extract of the six most active isolates showed remarkable activity against biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175. The highest inhibition activities reached 60% and 80% for Bacillus velezensis and Pseudomonas stutzeri, respectively. Therefore, our study added to the current dextranase-producing bacteria with potential as a source of dextranases.