title: Factors influencing the caries experience of 6 and 12 year old children in Riga, Latvia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Authors assessed the influence of drinking tea with sugar, level of cariogenic microflora and use of fluoride toothpaste and tablets on caries experience of 6 and 12 year old children in Riga, Latvia.
  
  
  METHODS
  141 six and 164 twelve year old children were examined clinically and with bitewing radiographs to determine their dmft/DMFT and dmfs/DMFS. Children or their parents responded to questionnaire on number teaspoons of sugar (TS) used per cup of tea, number of cups of tea consumed daily, using fluoride or non-fluoride toothpaste (TP), frequency of toothbrushing, using fluoride tablets or not (ft). Salivary mutans streptococci (MS) and lactobacilli (LB) levels were measured in children with dmft/DMFT>4.0 for age of 6 (73% (n=103)), and for age of 12 (54% (n=88)). Impact of variables in caries status was determined using frequency tables and ANOVA, while proportion differences were tested using chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 6 year olds, statistically significant associations were observed between the salivary microflora (MS, LB) and dt/DT (p=0.032; dt=3.71, DT=0.42), use of F-toothpaste (p=0.020), and TS (p<0.001). In 12 year olds, statistically significant (p<0.01) associations were observed between salivary microflora and dt/DT, ds/DS and dmft/DMFT. In both age groups, significant (p<0.001) association was demonstrated between dmfs/DMFS and salivary microflora, F-toothpaste and TS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicated that the caries development in Latvian children was associated with consumption of sugary tea and use of non-fluoride toothpaste.
authors.affiliation: 20, Str. Dzirciema, Riga, Latvia. j.gudkina@inbox.lv.
authors.forename: Jekaterina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gudkina
authors.forename: Anda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brinkmane
authors.forename: Stephen H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Abrams
authors.forename: Bennett T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Amaechi
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007844:Latvia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013662:Tea; D014100:Toothpastes
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D013662:Tea; D014100:Toothpastes