title: Salivary Candida, caries and Candida in toothbrushes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Candida species are common inhabitants of the normal oral microbiota. A few studies founded a relationship between high levels of Candida albicans in the oral cavity and high DMF scores. Toothbrushes can also be reservoirs of microorganisms, the proliferation of these microorganism on a toothbrush could be a major factor for its distribution in the oral cavity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the associations between salivary Candida and DMF, and between salivary Candida and Candida in the toothbrush.
  
  
  METHODS
  46 healthy school children, who attended a University pediatric dental clinic, were tested for Candida in their saliva and in their toothbrush. Their DMF was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  38 children were Candida-positive (79.2%), out of whom 5 demonstrated a positive growth of Candida in the toothbrushes. No correlation was found between Candida in the saliva and in the toothbrush. The number of Candida-positive girls was significantly higher than the number in boys. No significant relationship between caries experience and the presence of Candida was found
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No correlation was found between Candida in the saliva and in the toothbrush. The origin of the Candida in the toothbrush is not totally clear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ratson
authors.forename: Ronit Bar-Ness
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Greenstein
authors.forename: Yardena
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mazor
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peretz
mesh_terms: D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology*; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care / Q000382:microbiology*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*