Associations between salivary bacteria and reported sugar intake and their relationship with body mass index in women and their adolescent children

BMI, eating habits and sleep in relation to salivary counts of mutans streptococci in children - the IDEFICS Sweden study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between salivary counts of mutans streptococci (MS) and children's weight status, while considering associated covariates. MS ferments carbohydrates from the diet and contributes to caries by lowering the pH in dental plaque. In adults, high counts of MS in saliva have been associated with overweight, but this has not been shown in children.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study investigating salivary counts of MS, BMI Z-score, waist circumference, meal frequency, sugar propensity and sleep duration, in children.

SETTING

West Sweden.

SUBJECTS

Children (n 271) aged 4-11 years.

RESULTS

Medium-high counts of MS were positively associated with higher BMI Z-score (OR=1·6; 95% CI 1·1, 2·3). Positive associations were also found between medium-high counts of MS and more frequent meals per day (OR=1·5; 95% CI 1·1, 2·2), greater percentage of sugar-rich foods consumed (OR=1·1; 95% CI 1·0, 1·3) and female sex (OR=2·4; 95% CI 1·1, 5·4). A negative association was found between medium-high counts of MS and longer sleep duration (OR=0·5; 95% CI 0·3, 1·0).

CONCLUSIONS

BMI Z-score was associated with counts of MS. Promoting adequate sleep duration and limiting the intake frequency of sugar-rich foods and beverages could provide multiple benefits in public health interventions aimed at reducing dental caries and childhood overweight.

Point-of-care salivary microbial tests for detection of cariogenic species--clinical relevance thereof--review

Dental caries is a highly prevalent multifactorial disease that can result in serious health impairment. It was shown that oral bacteria play a significant role in caries development. Point-of-care (POC) salivary microbial tests for detection of cariogenic species have been investigated as a potential tool for caries risk assessment. This review aims to evaluate clinical relevance of these tests in the light of recent scientific evidence. Methodology involved PubMed search using key words salivary microbial tests, cariogenic bacteria and caries risk prediction. Articles obtained by the search were cross-referenced to obtain further sources. Specificity and negative-predictive value of these tests are higher than their sensitivity and positive value. Predictive power of the POC salivary microbial tests as a single predictor is generally weak, although it increases when included in multifactorial models for caries prediction. Literature findings support the use of these tests for screening of at-risk individuals in a population of young preschool children without visible caries and for motivation of subjects on individual level. POC salivary microbial tests are simple and inexpensive and, therefore, may be advantageous from public health perspective.

Use of chewing gum containing 15% of xylitol and reduction in mutans streptococci salivary levels

Frequent use of Xylitol may decrease the S. mutans levels. However, very little is known about whether this effect on the levels of cariogenic bacteria is maintained after the interruption of short-term usage of xylitol. This study aimed at evaluating changes in mutans streptococci (MS) salivary levels after using a chewing gum containing xylitol. Twelve volunteers harboring > or = 10(5) CFU MS/ml saliva levels were asked to chew Happydent-xylit for 5 minutes, 5 X/day, for 30 days. Saliva samples were collected at baseline, at 30 days after xylitol usage began, and at 30 days beyond its interruption. MS salivary levels were estimated. The average salivary levels of MS in the ten subjects who completed the study were 13.17 (NL-CFU) at baseline (A). After the 30 days experimental period (B), this average decreased to 9.45 (NL-CFU). Nine of ten subjects studied showed a reduction in MS salivary levels in relation to baseline, whereas salivary levels were maintained in the remaining subject. At thirty days beyond the interruption of xylitol usage (C), the average levels of MS were still reduced to 10.31 (NL-CFU). Multiple sample comparison using the Bonferroni test revealed that the decrease in MS levels observed from baseline (A) to the time immediately after 30 days of xylitol usage (B) was statistically significant (p < 0.05), and those levels were still decreased between baseline and 30 days beyond the interruption of xylitol usage (C). So, the use of xylitol induced a reduction in MS salivary levels after a short period of usage which persisted beyond its interruption.