ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CARIES PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL, MICROBIOLOGICAL AND DIETARY VARIABLES IN 1.0-YEAR-OLD TO 0.5-YEAR-OLD BRAZILIAN CHILDREN

The association between caries prevalence and clinical (presence of vi sible plaque in the labial surfaces of maxillary incisors), microbiolo gical (salivary levels of mutans streptococci) and dietary variables w as evaluated in 142 1.0- to 2.5-year-old children attending public day -care nurseries in the city of Piracicaba - Sao Paulo. A significant d ifference in caries prevalence was observed between those children wit h and without visible plaque (chi(2) = 12.08, p < 0.001). The mean ds (decayed surfaces) was significantly higher in children with visible p laque on the maxillary incisors than in children without it (p < 0.001 ). Mutans streptococci were detected in 114 (80.3%) of the children. A significantly higher caries prevalence was observed in children with high levels of mutans streptococci compared to children with low level s (chi(2) = 28.67, p < 0.001). The mean ds was significantly higher in children with levels of mutans streptococci greater than 50 CFU when compared to children with 0 CFU or 1-50 CFU of mutans streptococci (p < 0.05). Children who were either never breast-fed or only until 3 mon ths exhibited a significantly higher caries prevalence than those brea st-fed for a longer time (chi(2) = 4.11, p < 0.05). A significantly hi gher caries prevalence was also observed between children that used bo ttle containing milk with sucrose and cereal than children using bottl e with milk with or without sucrose (chi(2) = 6.24, p < 0.05). Childre n who started to eat salty meals at or after 7 months of age showed a significant higher caries prevalence than children who started earlier (chi(2) = 10.30, p < 0.01). These data support the evidence of an ass ociation between caries prevalence in young children and mutans strept ococci levels, clinical and dietary factors.