الفهرس 
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Abstract
Early childhood caries (ECC) is a virulent type of dental caries. It is characterized by early onset and rapid progression in children. ECC is a major public health problem, being the most common chronic infectious childhood disease, which is difficult to control.
ECC is etiologically associated with bacterial colonization in deciduous dentition, especially Streptococcus mutans (S.mutans). It has been demonstrated that early colonization of S. mutans considerably increases the risk of initiating dental caries, even the development of carious lesions shortly after eruption of the primary teeth.
Moreover, early acquisition and counts of S.mutans were suggested to be affected by different variables as mode of child delivery, maternal S. mutans counts, use of sweetened pacifier and more.
S. mitis is thought to have an antagonistic effect on the pathogenic S. mutans. Thus, acquisition and counts may act as indicators of healthy microflora.
Therefore, it is important to determine the initial time of transmission and colonization of these microorganisms, in order to adequately design a preventive management plan during the first months of life, and in some cases, even before gestation. In this context, the aim of the present study was to investigate the acquisition and counts of S. mutans and S. mitis in Egyptian infants, through a follow up period of 3 months. Also to study the possible association between infant’s S. mutans and S. mitis acquisition and counts, and maternal S. mutans and S. mitis levels, maternal DMFT scores. As well as to determine whether breast feeding, bottle feeding, mixed feeding (breast and bottle), intake of complementary food, use of sweetened pacifier or number of siblings and gender are risks factors in S. mutans and S. mitis colonization.
The current study was based on 2 phases, in the first phase, 50 mothers and their 3 months old infants were enrolled from a public hospital in Cairo, Egypt. They were recruited according to set inclusion criteria. Written consent was signed by the mothers before conducting the research. A questionnaire interview with the mothers was done to investigate the risk factors. Salivary samples from the mothers and their 3 months old infants were collected. In addition, DMFT scores of the mothers were recorded. Salivary samples were sent to the laboratory where they were cultured on Mitis Salivarius Agar and incubated to detect the acquisition and counts of S. mutans and S. mitis.
After 3 months another salivary samples were obtained from the same infants when they turned 6 months. At the end of the study mothers were informed by the study results and received oral education for their infants about oral hygiene, causes and prevention of dental caries and periodontal disease and they were handled brochures containing information about that.
The study results showed acquisition of S. mitis in all infants at 3 months suggesting that S. mitis is one of the pioneer bacteria in the oral cavity. However, S. mitis counts varied between infants. This variation was related to different factors studied. S. mitis were found in higher counts in infants delivered vaginally, infants whose mothers have high S. mitis and low S. mutans counts and low DMFT scores and infants who didn’t use sweetened pacifiers nor given any complementary food, suggesting favorable oral microbiota.
On the other hand, S. mutans were detected earlier and with higher counts in infants who were delivered by C- section, infants whose mothers have high S. mutans and low S. mitis counts and high DMFT scores and in infants who didn’t use sweetened pacifiers nor given any complementary food, suggesting pathogenic oral conditions and higher risk of dental caries. Gender, nursing pattern and presence of siblings didn’t show statistically significant results in the present study.