title: Candida, mutans streptococci, oral hygiene and caries in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to test the association between Candida and mutans streptococci (ms), oral hygiene and caries levels and in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  22 boys and 12 girls (age 6 to 14.5 years) participated in the study. Each participant received a toothbrush, and was asked to brush his/her teeth after proper instructions. Dental caries and oral hygiene were recorded. Candida and ms levels were determined in saliva samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Candida colonies were observed in 70.5% of the children. No association was found between Candida and caries or plaque and gingival indices. C. albicans-positive children demonstrated significantly higher brushing scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings may suggest that there is no clear association between Candida in saliva, and levels of cariogenic bacteria and caries risk in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. bperetz@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peretz
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mazor
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dagon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bar-Ness Greenstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology*; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care / Q000382:microbiology; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010512:Periodontal Index; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation