Pregnant women with poor dental hygiene habits are very likely to transmit tooth decay problems to their children, reveals a recent study carried out in the United States of America (USA).
The study shows a great “maternal influence on the transmission of the fungus to children”, with “the mother’s oral hygiene” being the cause.
Based on an experimental method, the investigation included the collection of 160 samples from mothers and children, at three different moments – during pregnancy, at birth and when the child turns two.
The data suggests that in 58% of cases, both patients had the fungus ‘Candida albicans’, responsible for cavity-related candidiasis in the mouth, as reported by the Live Science. However, this presence resulted in the fungus being linked to a genetic history in 94% of mothers and children. ‘Candida albicans’ can result in infections in the mouth, canker sores, burning sensation and the appearance of creamy plaques in the mouth.
According to researchers, the process of transmission of the fungus is not fully known, but there is a chance that contact with the mother’s skin, during birth, or the way of feeding itself can trigger candidiasis in children.
The study authors also found that the fungus was more common in bottle-fed babies at two months of age. Children with no record of the disease were breastfed between 12 and 18 months.
Tags: Pregnant women poor oral hygiene habits increase transmission tooth decay fungus children Science
