Low Caries Experience Research Articles

Assessment of parents’ oral health related behaviours and its relationship with oral health status of the children aged between 6-12 years in Davangere city: a cross-sectional survey

Background: It is widely acknowledged that the behaviour of parents affects their children's health. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between oral health behaviour of parents and oral health status of their children aged between 6-12 years. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 420 parent-child dyads with children aged between 6-12 years. A self-designed proforma was used for recording the sociodemographic details, with a questionnaire to assess parents’ oral health-related behaviours followed by clinical examination of the children for their oral health status. The Chi-square test, spearman’s correlation test and binary logistic regression analysis were applied by considering Statistical significance at p<0.05. Results: The majority of the parents reported of having good oral health-related behaviours (60.2%). When children’s oral health status was assessed, more than half of the children had low caries experience (62.5%), showed a milder form of gingivitis (96.2%) and good oral hygiene status (57.4%). No statistically significant association was found between parents’ oral health-related behaviours with the children’s oral health status. Conclusions: Parents’ oral health-related behaviours did not influence the children’s oral health status.

TLR2 and TLR4 Polymorphisms Are Not Associated with Dental Caries in Polish Children.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the association of the TLR2 (Toll-like receptor 2 gene) 2258G>A (rs5743708), TLR4 (Toll-like receptor 4 gene) 896A>G (rs4986790), and TLR4 1196C>T (rs4986791) polymorphisms with dental caries in Polish children. The participants, 261 15-year-old children, were divided into two groups: 82 cases (i.e., children with DMFT (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth) index >5, having either moderate or high caries experience, assigned as the "higher" caries experience group) and 179 controls (i.e., children with DMFT ≤ 5, having either low or very low caries experience, assigned as the "lower" caries experience group). Genomic DNA was isolated from buccal swabs, and genotyping was determined by means of real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction). There were no significant differences in the genotype or allele distributions in all tested SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) between children with "higher" caries experience and those with "lower" caries experience. TLR4 haplotype frequencies did not differ significantly between cases and controls. In an additional analysis with another case definition applied (subjects with DMFT ≥ 1 were assigned as "cases", whereas children with DMFT = 0 were assigned as "controls"), no significant differences in the TLR2 and TLR4 genotype, allele frequencies, and TLR4 haplotype frequencies were found between the case and the control groups. The results of the present study broaden our knowledge on the potential genetic factors that might affect caries risk and suggest that TLR2 rs5743708 and TLR4 rs4986790 and rs4986791 SNPs are not associated with dental caries susceptibility in Polish children.

Caries risk and dental anxiety in recall patients in a specialised paedodontic university clinic

Objective To evaluate parental reports of the oral health status and anxiety levels of children who attended a paediatric dental service and their association with children’s caries experience. Methods This questionnaire- and dental record-based study included a total of 70 healthy recall children aged between five and 10 years, who presented for a dental check-up to the specialised paedodontics department at the University of Greifswald, and for whom an application of fluoride varnish was indicated. The accompanying parent (n=70) was asked to evaluate their child’s dental anxiety (dichotomously with a single question – yes or no answer) and oral health status (good, satisfying, poor). Caries experience was categorised according to the dmft index based on World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria. Results An overall frequency of dental anxiety of 40% (n=28) was found in recall children according to parental report. Only 32.1% (n=9) of those were children with low to very low caries experience, whereas 67.9% (n=19) belonged to the moderate to high/very high caries experience group. Thus, dental anxiety in this study was significantly associated with caries experience based on dmft index (p=0.030, chi-square test). Parental assessment of the oral health status of the schoolchildren and their caries experience level also showed a statistically significant association (p=0.020; chi-square test). Conclusion: Dental anxiety in recall children attending a specialised paediatric university dental clinic is high, which is clearly associated with higher caries experience. The majority of children who attended for dental follow-up appointment had moderate to very high caries experience, which was also associated with higher parent-reported dental anxiety and a poorer oral health status report.

KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOR OF BRUSHING TEETH WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF CARIES OF PEDIATRIC PATIENTS AGED 10-14 YEARS

Background: The 2018 Base Health Research results recorded 57.6% of dental and oral problems, caused by a lack of knowledge and behavior of brushing teeth properly and correctly. Children aged 10-14 are children who are vulnerable to dental and oral health problems. This study aims to determine the relationship between knowledge and behavior of brushing teeth with caries experience in pediatric patients aged 10-14 years at the dental polyclinic at Arjawinangun Hospital, Cirebon Regency. Research objective: To analyze the relationship between knowledge and behavor of brushing teeth with caries experience in pediatric patients age 10-14 years old at the dental polyclinic at the Arjawinangun Regional General Hospital. Methodology: The type of research used was quantitative research with a cross-sectional approach to 30 samples based on a purposive sampling technique. Data collection used a questionnaire to measure knowledge and behavior of brushing teeth and the DMF-T index for caries experience. Results: The study showed that 60% of the sample had moderate knowledge, 70% had moderate behavior, and 46.7% had low caries experience. Spearman correlation test results obtained p value = 0.000 meaning that there is a relationship between knowledge and behavior about brushing teeth with caries experience. Conclusion: Knowledge and behavior of brushing teeth are related to dental caries experience.

Impact of Parenting Style on Child's Behavior and Caries Experience in 3-6-year-old Children: A Cross-sectional Study.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of parenting style on a child's behavior and caries experience in 3-6-year-old children. This cross-sectional study included 1,216 parent-child pairs of 3-6-year-old preschool children. Parenting style was determined using Parenting Style and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ). Child behavior was assessed using Frankl's behavior rating scale, and caries experience was recorded using the decayed, extracted and filled deciduous teeth surfaces index. Out of the 1,216 parents, the authoritative parenting style is seen in 70%, authoritarian in 20%, and permissive parenting style in 9.5%. Children with a permissive type of parenting style have shown more negative behavior. Children of authoritative parents had 4.1 times higher odds of exhibiting definitely positive behavior, which is statistically significant (p = 0.004). Children of positive child behavior had 2.4 times higher odds of avoiding caries which is statistically significant (p = 0.0001). Children of authoritarian parents had 1.45 times higher odds of exhibiting caries than children of permissive parents; however, this difference is not statistically significant. Children of authoritative parents demonstrated low caries experience and desirable behavior in the dental office. On the contrary, children of permissive parents exhibited undesirable dental behavior, and children of authoritarian parents had high caries experience. Twenty-first-century parents are less controlling and are more permissive leading to problematic child behavior in the dental office. Parenting styles have an impact on the effectiveness of behavior management as well as dental treatment. Pediatric dentists should identify different parenting styles and anticipate the child's behavior. This study emphasizes the effect of different parenting styles on a child's behavior and dental caries experience. Shalini K, Uloopi KS, Vinay C, et al. Impact of Parenting Style on Child's Behavior and Caries Experience in 3-6-year-old Children: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(2):276-279.

Periodontal diseases in Thai schoolchildren. Clinical and microbiological observations.

The prevalence of periodontitis among Thai schoolchildren is unknown. In a cross-sectional study, the prevalence and severity of periodontal diseases, in a group of Thai schoolchildren, along with the presence and numbers of bacterial species commonly associated with periodontitis were investigated. A consent form was sent out to 192 schoolchildren in one school (Chanachanupathom School) in Chana, Southern Thailand (in the age range of 12-18years) and 119 attended for a clinical and microbiological examination. Clinical recordings included number of teeth present, DMFT, plaque index, bleeding index, clinical attachment loss (CAL), and probing pocket depth (PPD). Pooled plaque samples were analyzed with culture and qPCR against bacteria associated with periodontitis. The children had low caries experience (DMFT = 3.2 ± 2.3), poor oral hygiene, high bleeding scores, and 67 (56.3%) had at least one interproximal site with CAL ≥ 1mm. Thirty-seven (31.1%) of the children were diagnosed with periodontitis stage I, and sixteen (13.4%) were classified as periodontitis Stage II. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was sparsely found in all but the healthy clinical groups (gingivitis, periodontitis Stage I and II), while the groups showed a high prevalence of Fusobacterium spp., Prevotella intermedia/nigrescens, and Campylobacter species as well as of the periodontitis-associated species Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia. Thai schoolchildren have poor oral hygiene with abundant amounts of plaque and high presence of bleeding. Early onset periodontitis is common but mostly in its mild form and is not associated with the presence of A. actinomycetemcomitans.

Associations of diet quality, food consumption, eating frequency and eating behaviour with dental caries experience in Finnish children: a 2-year longitudinal study.

We examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of dietary factors with caries experience in a population sample of 487 children aged 6-9 years at baseline examinations of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study. Altogether, 406 of these children attended 2-year follow-up examinations. Food consumption and eating frequency were assessed using 4-day food records, diet quality using the Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) and eating behaviour using the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Caries experience was examined clinically. The cross-sectional associations of dietary factors with caries experience at baseline were analysed using linear regression and the longitudinal associations of dietary factors with a change in caries experience over follow-up using generalised mixed-effects regression adjusted for other risk factors. A higher consumption of high-fibre grain products (standardised regression coefficient β = -0·16, P = 0·003) and milk (β = -0·11, P = 0·025) and higher BSDS (β = -0·15, P = 0·007) were associated with lower caries experience, whereas a higher consumption of potatoes (β = 0·11, P = 0·048) and emotional overeating (β = 0·12, P = 0·025) were associated with higher caries experience. Higher snacking frequency (fixed coefficient β = 0·07, P = 0·033), desire to drink (β = 0·10, P = 0·046), slowness in eating (β = 0·12, P = 0·027) and food fussiness (β = 0·12, P = 0·018) were associated with higher caries experience, whereas enjoyment of food (β = -0·12, P = 0·034) and higher BSDS (β = -0·02, P = 0·051) were associated with lower caries experience.

Caries experience and gingival health in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus-A cross-sectional study.

AimTo investigate the oral health of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its associations with diabetes‐related and lifestyle factors.DesignCross‐sectional study at a large tertiary hospital pediatric diabetes clinic. Oral examination determined dental caries experience and gingival health. Secondary outcome measures included salivary characteristics, oral hygiene and dietary practices, and diabetes‐related factors.ResultsEighty children and adolescents with T1D participated; mean (SD) age and HbA1c were 13.4(2.6) years and 7.7(0.9)%, respectively. Forty‐seven (59%) participants had one or more decayed, missing or filled teeth; 75 (94%) participants had gingivitis. Half (50%) reported ≥3 hypoglycemic episodes necessitating rapid‐acting carbohydrate in the previous week. Sixty‐two participants (78%) had normal saliva flow, however, 42 (52%) had reduced salivary buffering capacity. Glycemic control (HbA1c) was not associated with caries experience, gingival health or salivary characteristics. Increased frequency of tooth brushing (OR, 0.11; 95%CI 0.01–0.97, p = 0.05) and interdental flossing (OR, 0.31; 95%CI 0.12–0.81, p = 0.02) were associated with lower caries experience. Interdental flossing (OR, 0.31; 95% CI 0.12–0.80, p = 0.02) and good oral hygiene (OR, 0.06; 95% CI 0.01–0.22, p < 0.001) were associated with less gingivitis.ConclusionPoor oral health is common in children with T1D, regardless of HbA1c. Given potential implications for short‐ and long‐term systemic health, this study demonstrates the need for targeted strategies to improve oral health in children with T1D.

Oral health status of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder considering oral hygiene habits.

This study aimed to evaluate the oral health status of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Ninety-two participants, aged 18 years and older from which 46 had OCD symptoms, were included in this comparative cross-sectional study. Data on age, sex, smoking habit, educational level, and potential mediators including brushing frequency (BF) and brushing duration (BD) were collected. Clinical examinations determined outcome measures including decayed-missing-filled teeth (DMFT), presence of root caries (PoRC), gingival recession (GR), plaque index (PI), and papillary bleeding index (PBI). Pathway analysis was used for data analysis. Individuals with OCD had significantly lower DMFT (p < .01), higher BF (p = .01), and lower PI (p = .01); however, there were no significant differences regarding BD, GR, PBI, and PoRC (p > .05). While BD did not have a mediating role, BF mediated the effect of OCD on DMFT (B = -0.31, CI = -0.60 to -0.06) and PI (B = -0.15, CI = -0.36 to -0.03). Males had less PI (B = -1.03, CI = -1.81 to -0.24) and PBI (B = -1.14, CI = -2.09 to 0.20) than females. Except for OCD and sex, other predictors were not significant. Individuals with OCD had lower caries experience and similar gingival health compared to controls. Part of the impact of OCD was mediated through brushing habits.

Oral Health Related Behaviors in Relation to DMFT Indexes of Teenagers in an Urban Area of North-West Poland-Dental Caries Is Still a Common Problem.

Caries has a negative influence on health and is still a public health problem among children and adolescents in Poland. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of dietary habits, oral hygiene behaviors and the frequency of usage of dental services with the dental caries index in teenagers in North-West Poland. The study enrolled 264 children (147M/117F) aged 15. Participants filled out a questionnaire regarding age, sex, frequency of visits to the dentist, dietary habits and oral hygiene behaviors, and the Decayed Missing Filled Teeth Index (DMFT) was calculated. Caries was found in 88.6% of subjects. The lower or no caries experience group (DMFT ≤ 5) comprised of 180 subjects, while higher caries experience (DMFT > 5) was found in 84 teenagers and was significantly inversely associated with tooth brushing after the last meal (OR = 0.45; 95% CI:0.21–0.97; p = 0.04) and the daily use of dental floss (OR = 0.12; 95% CI:0.01–0.92; p = 0.04). There is an emerging need for the implementation of effective caries prevention and recovery programs in Poland. Health promotion focusing on oral hygiene behaviors should be disseminated more widely because lower caries experience was demonstrated in teenagers declaring healthy oral habits. Another important need is the development of multi-sectorial actions aiming at the improvement of dietary habits.

Relationship between Obesity and Dental Caries in Saudi Male Adolescents.

Introduction Obesity and dental caries are global public health problems. There are conflicting reports about the relationship between caries and obesity. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the association between obesity and dental caries among male adolescents. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study included a sample of 258 male students' aged 12 to 15 years from schools in Dammam/Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The study involved measuring caries prevalence and DMFT estimates, assessing body mass index (BMI), and administering a self-completion questionnaire. Independent samples Student's t-test, one-way ANOVA test, Pearson's correlation test, and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results Caries prevalence of the sample was 79.8%, and the mean score of DMFT was 3.55 ± 2.94. The mean BMI of participants was 23.42 ± 6.82 and 18% were obese (BMI > 30). The obese participants had a higher mean DMFT score (4.46 ± 3.54) than nonobese participants (3.35 ± 2.77) (P=0.021). Similarly, the mean untreated caries was higher in obese (4.17 ± 3.22) than in nonobese participants (3.01 ± 2.66) (P=0.010). In the logistic regression analysis, after controlling for father's education, family history of obesity, meals per day, fast food per week, and physical activity in the final model, the participants with high caries experience (DMFT = 5–15) were 2.21 times more likely to have obesity than those with low caries experience (DMFT = 0–4) (P=0.04). No/school education of father (odds ratio 3.54, P=0.011), family history of obesity (odds ratio 3.27, P=0.002), and not performing physical activity (odds ratio 4.37, P=0.002) were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of obesity. Conclusion The prevalence of caries and obesity was high in male adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Obesity was significantly associated with untreated caries and caries experience. Children with high caries experience were more likely to have obesity than children with low caries experience. Preventive programs and policies should address public health issues related to caries and obesity in male teenagers.

Motivational interviewing for preventing early childhood caries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review with meta-analysis was performed to assess whether motivational interviewing (MI) is effective in the prevention of early childhood caries (ECC) and to examine potential sources of heterogeneity. Interventions based on motivational interviewing were considered eligible. The main outcome was new caries lesions (some studies included white-spot lesions in total count), and secondary outcomes included caregivers' oral health knowledge, home-care behaviours, plaque index, gingival index and fluoride varnish applications. Controls were any type of oral health education or negative controls without any specific intervention. From a total of 1498 studies identified in the databases search, 1078 were assessed for eligibility by reading titles and abstracts, after removal of duplicates. Full-text screening was performed in 61 articles, with 18 reporting on 14 different studies included in the qualitative synthesis and 8 in the quantitative synthesis (four studies included new white-spot lesions in total count). Subgroup analysis was performed by the control group dmft/dmfs and the test for subgroup differences suggests that there is a subgroup effect (P=.06), so population caries experience modifies the effect of MI-based intervention. In populations with high caries experience, the MI-based approach proved preventing an average of 3.15 (95% CI: -6.14, -0.17) dmfs in young children. In samples with low caries experience, differences were smaller, since the caries levels were already lower (-0.31; 95% CI: -0.63, 0.00). Motivational interviewing has the potential to modify knowledge and behaviours and reduce ECC with a more significant impact on children with high caries experience.

Does orthodontic treatment affect caries levels?

Design A prospective cohort study.Exposure/sample selection In 2005/2006, the authors analysed data from participants in a previous oral epidemiological study conducted in 1988/1989. Children whom were clinically examined in the School Dental Clinics in South Australia in 1988/1989 were invited to a follow-up in 2005/2006. Respondents competed a questionnaire concerning their sociodemographic characteristics, dental health behaviours and the receipt of orthodontic treatment, and were invited for a clinical examination. Oral health information concerning decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) and occlusal status using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) were recorded by multiple trained calibrated dentists in accordance with the NIDR procedures. The study obtained ethical approval from the University of Adelaide and maintained informed consent at each stage of the study.Data analysis Data analysis was performed independently by the principle researcher. Analysis involved descriptive statistics, frequency distribution and cross tabulation. Explanatory variables for orthodontic treatment and dental outcomes were investigated for each DAI category using negative binominal regression using the online computer programme 'effect size calculator'. The statistical analysis was preformed using IBM SPSS statistics version 24. All explanatory variables were introduced into the adjusted negative binominal regression models based on their statistical significance from multiple linear regression models, with the p value set at 0.05.Results The response rate for the questionnaire was 34% (n = 632), with 74% (n = 473) of those attending for clinical examination. After exclusions, 24% (n = 448) of those originally contacted participated. Statistically significant differences in clinical outcomes were observed between those who had and had not visited the dentist in the last two years. These outcomes included missing teeth (MT), filled teeth (FT) and a higher DMFT score. In addition, brushing at least twice daily was associated with fewer decayed teeth (DT) and MT (p <0.001). Increased MT was observed among individuals who had orthodontic treatment across all DAI categories except for participants with very severe malocclusion. In this group, there were significantly more MT among the untreated participants (p <0.001). Thirty-five percent (n = 157) of participants reported a history of orthodontic treatment by the age of 30. No statistically significant associations were found between orthodontic treatment and all aspects of DMFT using adjusted models for participant self-reported sociodemographics, dental health behaviours and malocclusion.Conclusions Caries experience does not correlate with previous orthodontic treatment. Sociodemographic variables and dental health behaviours have a greater impact, and are associated with long-term disease outcomes, including numbers of DMFT. Caries experience is also associated with educational attainment and income level, frequency of tooth brushing and dental office attendance. In summary, orthodontic treatment does not provide superior long-term dental health outcomes in relation to caries. The hypothesis that those with previous orthodontic treatment would have lower caries experience was rejected.

Maternal caries experience influences offspring's early childhood caries-a birth cohort study.

To describe early childhood caries (ECC) patterns and evaluate the associations with maternal caries experience and other factors. A secondary analysis was undertaken using data from the Study of Mothers' and Infants' Life Events Affecting Oral Health (SMILE), a population-based birth cohort study. It used data from 1040 mother/child dyads. Standardized oral examinations of the mothers and the children were conducted when children were 2-3years old to determine the prevalence of ECC (main outcome) and maternal caries experience (main exposure variable). Maternal sociodemographic characteristics, time-restricting conditions (relationship status, work status and number of children in the household) and dental health behaviours (brushing frequency and sugary beverage consumption) served as covariates. Data on child dental health behaviours were collected at two years of age. Multivariable models were generated for ECC to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) for the association between ECC and maternal caries experience, controlling for the covariates. The prevalence of ECC among 2- to 3-year-old children was 10.6% (95%CI: 8.7%-12.5%). It was higher in children whose mothers had greater caries experience. Children whose mothers had higher caries experience had 86% (PR=1.86 [1.27-2.72]) greater risk of having ECC than those whose mothers had low caries experience. Children whose teeth had not been brushed the night before had a higher risk of ECC (PR=1.4 [1.01-1.9]) than their counterparts. Women born in Australia, New Zealand or the UK had offspring with lower risk of ECC. Maternal caries experience was an independent risk factor for offspring ECC. However, good oral health behaviours practised by mothers for their children may alleviate such risk. Mothers need to be supported to adopt good oral health behaviours and a healthy diet for their child.

Oral health conditions in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundNephrotic syndrome is one of the chronic illnesses in the pediatric age group. The aim of this study was to assess the oral health of patients with steroid-sensitive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (iNS).MethodsA case-control study was performed on iNS patients and healthy from May 2018 to April 2019. Dental caries was assessed by the World Health Organization criteria, developmental defects of enamel by the mDDE index, oral hygiene by the OHI-S and API, and gingival condition by the GI. Oral health behavior was recorded using a standardized questionnaire including tooth brushing, fluoride prevention, dietary habits and utilization of dental care. Additionally, Streptococcus mutans (SM) and Lactobacillus spp. (LB) bacteria in saliva were assessed using the CRT bacteria test. Statistical analysis comparing oral health parameters was carried by Pearson’s chi-squared, Fisher’s exact, Shapiro-Wilk verified by Student’s t or Mann-Whitney U tests.ResultsThe study included 94 participants of both sexes at the age of 4 to 17 years (47 cases and 47 controls) who were treated in Clinic of Pediatric Nephrology or outpatients’ dental clinic in Wroclaw, Poland. The iNS patients compared to the controls revealed some lower caries experience (83.0% vs 95.7%) and number of caries affected primary and/or permanent teeth (4.6 ± 3.5 vs 6.0 ± 4.1), a significantly lower number of filled primary and/or permanent teeth (1.1 ± 1.6 vs 3.5 ± 3.0, P < 0.001) and higher incidence of enamel hypoplasia (31.9% vs 4.3%, P < 0.001). The numbers of the iNS patients with high level of SM and LB were similar to the controls. The iNS patients had a higher OHI-S score (1.89 ± 1.59 vs 1.05 ± 1.02, P < 0.010) and a higher GI score (0.7 ± 1.0 vs 0.3 ± 0.6, P = 0.050). Moreover, they less frequently brushed their teeth twice a day (78.8% vs 93.6%, P = 0.026) and more frequently consumed three or more snacks daily (53.2% vs 23.4%, P = 0.002).ConclusionsThe iNS patients despite the poor oral hygiene revealed lower caries experience but smaller number of restored caries-affected teeth, more severe gingivitis and more frequently teeth affected by enamel hypoplasia.

Lack of Association between Enamel Gene Variants and Dental Caries in Adults

Objectives: Studies report that gene polymorphisms associated with mineralization may change the structure of enamel and create a predisposition for developing dental caries. The aim of the study was to evaluate the VDR and TFIP11 gene variants in adults with caries experience and to investigate their interactions with the environmental factors. Materials and Methods: A total of 160 individuals at the age of 24-40 years were included in the study and they were assigned to two groups according to decayed-missing-filled teeth index (DMFT); namely the low caries experience (LCE, DMFT≤4) and high caries experience (HCE, DMFT&amp;gt; 9.13). DNA was isolated from buccal swab samples to genotype the VDR (TaqI; rs731236) and TFIP11 (rs5997096) gene variants. The real-time PCR was used for genotyping. The frequency of tooth brushing, carbohydrate intake, smoking, and the dental plaques were evaluated as environmental risk factors. Results: Between the caries groups and the distribution of the genotypes and alleles of the VDR rs731236 and TFIP11 rs5997096 gene variants were not statistically different. There was also no significant difference when homozygous, heterozygous, dominant, and recessive models were evaluated for the two variants. The frequency of tooth brushing was significantly higher in the LCE group. According to the regression analysis; the amount of plaque explained the high caries experience at a rate of 51.4%. Conclusions: The study findings indicated that common variants in the VDR and TFIP11 genes were not associated with high caries experiences in Turkish adults.

Evaluation of Salivary pH Changes with Probiotic, Baking Soda and Mineral Water Rinse Among Individuals with Low Caries Experience

Background: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease; it causes decay in tooth and leads to unbearable pain and expensive dental procedures. One of potential risk factor that favor the caries process is acidic pH that a person faces usually after consumption of any food or drinks. Various mouth rinses are evaluated to normalize the salivary pH to break the chain of caries pathophysiology.&#x0D; Objective: To evaluate the role of probiotic, baking soda and mineral water rinses on pH of Saliva.&#x0D; Materials and methods: It were a cross sectional study conducted in institute of Karachi from -10 January to 25 June 2020. Out of 150 participants 60 qualified the inclusion criteria and were explained about the procedure of the study after their agreement they were divided into three groups each group comprised of 20 participants. Group 1 was given probiotic mouth rinse; Group 2 was given baking soda mouth rinse and in Group 3 mineral water rinses were given. They were told to rinse the oral cavity before and after the food consumption and pre and post salivary changes were recorded.&#x0D; Results: Significant (p-value = 0.001) change in salivary pH was observed with baking soda and mineral water rinses however probiotic mouth rinse did not show significant (p-value = 0.22) change.&#x0D; Conclusion: Rinsing with Baking soda and mineral water mouth rinses increased the salivary pH to normal.

Exploring the impact of oral health-related quality of life on the child’s family structure

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) on the child’s family structure. Methods: A representative sample of 613 children from public preschools, in a city in southeastern Brazil, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The sample was determined through probabilistic sampling in two stages (preschools and children). The outcome variable (Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale [ECOHIS]) was multi-categorized in children and family. Independent individual variables were sex, race, family income, parents’/caregivers’ level of education, family income, dental caries, and malocclusion. Initially, individual analyses were performed, relating the study variables to the outcome variables, estimating the raw odds ratio with the respective confidence intervals of 95%. The variables with p &lt; 0.20 in the individual analyses were tested in the multiple logistic regression models, and those with p &lt; 0.10 remained in the model. Results: Impact on OHRQoL was reported by 40.9% of the children and 17% of their families. Children with low family income and caries experience had, respectively, 1.53 (95% CI: 1.00-2.32) (p = 0.0465) and 2.96 (95% CI: 1.81-4.84) (p &lt; 0.0001) more chance of presenting negative impact on OHRQoL. Conclusions: The aspects that most affected the OHRQoL of child’s family structure were low income and dental caries experience.

Chapter 8: Milk, Yoghurts and Dental Caries.

Milk is an important part of the human diet; after weaning, cow's milk (bovine milk) predominates and this chapter considers the effect of bovine milk on dental caries. Yoghurt, which is a milk product, is also considered here. Several published reviews have concluded that milk is of very low cariogenicity and may have some caries protective potential. For example, WHO reviewed the strength of the evidence in 2003 and concluded that a "decreased risk" of dental caries from milk was "possible." The evidence comes from several types of study: epidemiological studies (interventional and observational), animal experiments, plaque pH studies, and in vivo and in vitro enamel and dentine slab experiments. More recent observational epidemiological studies have adjusted for potential confounders and have reported that milk consumption is associated with lower caries experience or incidence. Other types of study generally support this conclusion. Reasons for these favourable caries-related properties include the lower acidogenicity of lactose compared with other dietary sugars and the protective effects of calcium, phosphate, proteins, and fats. There is less research concerning yoghurts but it is likely that the cariogenic potential of plain yoghurt is similar to that of milk. The addition of sucrose to milk increases caries risk.

Genetic and Environmental Factors in Adults With Low and High Caries Experience

Genetic and Environmental Factors in Adults With Low and High Caries Experience