title: Dental caries, cariogenic microorganisms and salivary properties of allergic rhinitis children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to observe the caries activities of allergic rhinitis patients in relation to salivary properties, salivary levels of mutans streptococci (MS) and lactobacillus (LB), oral hygiene and dietary habits.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study groups composed of 40 allergic rhinitis children and 40 healthy controls aged between 6 and 13 years old. Demographic data, oral hygiene practices and dietary habits were recorded by questionnaire. For permanent teeth, caries experience was expressed as DMFT (D=decayed; M=missing; F=filled; T=teeth) index. The dmft (d=decayed; m=missing; f=filling; t=teeth) index was used for caries prevalence in primary teeth. Unstimulated salivary flow rate, salivary buffering capacity, and salivary MS and LB were also determined in children with allergic rhinitis and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in combined DMFT/dmft, salivary flow rate, buffer capacity of saliva, salivary LB levels, and sugary food consumption between cases and controls (p>0.05). However, higher salivary MS levels were observed in allergic rhinitis patients, compared to controls (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrated that patients with allergic rhinitis had an increase in the level of salivary MS.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Thammasat University (Rangsit Campus), Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wongkamhaeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University (Rangsit Campus), Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.
authors.forename: Orapan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Poachanukoon
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Thammasat University (Rangsit Campus), Pathumthani 12120, Thailand. Electronic address: koontongkaew@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sittichai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koontongkaew
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012016:Reference Values; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Caries risk; Lactobacilli; Mutans streptococci; Salivary properties