Researchers from Kuwait University discovered that a mother can transmit the oral fungus Candida albicans to her child, creating preconditions for the development of tooth decay. results published In the journal PLOS One.
During the study, scientists took samples from the oral cavities of 160 mothers and their children between 2017 and 2020 to examine the microflora. Samples were collected during eight visits, conducted several times during the subjects’ pregnancy, at birth, and after the participating children turned two years old.
To learn what role the yeast Candida albicans plays in children’s dental health, researchers performed genomic sequencing (examination of a person’s entire DNA sequence) of saliva samples. It is believed that these fungi can trigger the development of serious early childhood caries. Additionally, Candida albicans can cause an oral infection called thrush in babies.
C. albicans was detected in the saliva samples of a total of 93 mother-child pairs, approximately 58%. It was also revealed that the number of these fungi increases in children at later ages. It is stated that 94% of mother-child pairs are carriers of genetically related Candida albicans species. This suggests that Candida albicans may be transmitted from mother to child to some extent.
The scientists also evaluated the condition of the participants’ teeth and the level of plaque accumulation on them on a scale of zero to three. They found that women who scored two or three were eight times more likely to pass C. albicans to their children than subjects who scored one.
Researchers have suggested that yeast can enter babies’ bodies during birth, when it comes into contact with the mother’s skin, or during breastfeeding. It is also possible that the development of caries in children due to tooth decay caused by Candida albicans is also related to poor personal hygiene.
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