Maternal risk indicators for childhood caries in an inner city population.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated whether characteristics of mothers, such as high mutans streptococci (MS) level, caries experience, reported sugar consumption and demographic variables, could be important risk indicators of caries for their children.


METHODS
Mothers selected on the basis of the caries status of their 3-5-year-old-children were tested for MS, caries, reported sugar consumption and demographic variables.


RESULTS
We found strong associations between children's caries and their mothers' MS levels (high/low adj. OR = 11.3), maternal active caries (yes/no adj. OR = 4.0) and maternal sugar consumption (high/low adj. OR = 4.2). In this small study, mothers' demographic variables were not associated with the status of caries in their children.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that maternal high MS levels, maternal active decay and maternal sugar consumption are strong risk indicators for children's caries. Although further study is needed, these three maternal risk indicators, taken together, may prove useful in predicting children's caries risk.
Smith
R E
RE
Montefiore Medical Center, Montefiore Dental Center at Jacobi Hospital, Bronx, New York, USA. res114@columbia.edu
Badner
Victor M
VM
Morse
Douglas E
DE
Freeman
Katherine
K
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009035:Mothers; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012307:Risk Factors; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D019422:Dietary Sucrose