Relationship between feeding habits and mutans streptococci colonization in a group of Spanish children aged 15-20 months.
OBJECTIVE
(1) To determine the prevalence of mutans streptococci (MS) in a group of Spanish children aged 15-20 months, and (2) to analyze the relationship between early colonization and feeding habits.


METHODS
In a group of 56 children, various feeding habits with a possible influence on early MS colonization were registered using a questionnaire; saliva samples were taken with a tongue blade in order to detect MS presence.


RESULTS
As many as 73% of the children used a nursing bottle at this age, often with sugar content (cereal was added in 83% of children, who were still bottle-fed). The percentage of MS colonization was relatively high (46%), although no child presented caries at the time. A statistically significant relationship (P < 0.05) was found between MS colonization and sweetening of the bottle contents. A relation was also found, though not significant, between MS colonization and the absence of breastfeeding or, on the other hand, the excessive prolongation of natural or artificial feeding.
Lamas
Marta
M
Community Health Center, Collado-Villalba, Madrid, Spain. martalamas@terra.es
González
Angel
A
Barbería
Elena
E
García-Godoy
Franklin
F
D000818:Animals; D001628:Beverages; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002523:Edible Grain; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013030:Spain; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000254:growth & development*
D019422:Dietary Sucrose