title: BMI, eating habits and sleep in relation to salivary counts of mutans streptococci in children - the IDEFICS Sweden study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between salivary counts of mutans streptococci (MS) and children's weight status, while considering associated covariates. MS ferments carbohydrates from the diet and contributes to caries by lowering the pH in dental plaque. In adults, high counts of MS in saliva have been associated with overweight, but this has not been shown in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study investigating salivary counts of MS, BMI Z-score, waist circumference, meal frequency, sugar propensity and sleep duration, in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  West Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children (n 271) aged 4-11 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medium-high counts of MS were positively associated with higher BMI Z-score (OR=1·6; 95% CI 1·1, 2·3). Positive associations were also found between medium-high counts of MS and more frequent meals per day (OR=1·5; 95% CI 1·1, 2·2), greater percentage of sugar-rich foods consumed (OR=1·1; 95% CI 1·0, 1·3) and female sex (OR=2·4; 95% CI 1·1, 5·4). A negative association was found between medium-high counts of MS and longer sleep duration (OR=0·5; 95% CI 0·3, 1·0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BMI Z-score was associated with counts of MS. Promoting adequate sleep duration and limiting the intake frequency of sugar-rich foods and beverages could provide multiple benefits in public health interventions aimed at reducing dental caries and childhood overweight.
authors.affiliation: 1Section for Epidemiology and Social Medicine,University of Gothenburg,Box 453,S-405 30 Göteborg,Sweden.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arvidsson
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Cariology,Institute of Odontology,University of Gothenburg,Gothenburg,Sweden.
authors.forename: Dowen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Birkhed
authors.affiliation: 1Section for Epidemiology and Social Medicine,University of Gothenburg,Box 453,S-405 30 Göteborg,Sweden.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hunsberger
authors.affiliation: 3Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS GmbH,Bremen,Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanfer
authors.affiliation: 1Section for Epidemiology and Social Medicine,University of Gothenburg,Box 453,S-405 30 Göteborg,Sweden.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lissner
authors.affiliation: 1Section for Epidemiology and Social Medicine,University of Gothenburg,Box 453,S-405 30 Göteborg,Sweden.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mehlig
authors.affiliation: 4Department of Paediatrics,Queen Silvia Children's Hospital,University of Gothenburg,Gothenburg,Sweden.
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mårild
authors.affiliation: 1Section for Epidemiology and Social Medicine,University of Gothenburg,Box 453,S-405 30 Göteborg,Sweden.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eiben
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D012890:Sleep; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013548:Sweden; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose
keywords: BMI Z-score; IDEFICS; Meal frequency; Mutans streptococci; Sleep duration; Sugar propensity