The Associations between Snack Intake and Cariogenic Oral Microorganism Colonization in Young Children of a Low Socioeconomic Status

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 16; no. 8; p. 1113
• Main Authors: Alkadi, Ahmed, Alkhars, Naemah, Manning, Samantha, Xu, Hongzhe, Sohn, Michael, Xiao, Jin, Meng, Ying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 10.04.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Babies; Breastfeeding & lactation; Brief Report; Candida - isolation & purification; Candida albicans; Child, Preschool; Cohort analysis; Dental Caries - epidemiology; Dental Caries - microbiology; Female; Humans; Infant; Low Socioeconomic Status; Male; Microorganisms; Mouth - microbiology; oral health; Oral hygiene; Preschool education; Prospective Studies; Regression analysis; Secondary schools; Snack foods; snack intake; Snacks; Social Class; Socioeconomic factors; Streptococcus mutans; Streptococcus mutans - isolation & purification; Sugar; New York; United States > US; Candida albicans; oral health; snack intake; Streptococcus mutans
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu16081113

Cariogenic microorganisms are crucial pathogens contributing to the development of early childhood caries. Snacks provide fermentable carbohydrates, altering oral pH levels and potentially affecting microorganism colonization. However, the relationship between snack intake and cariogenic microorganisms like and in young children is still unclear. This study aimed to assess this association in a prospective underserved birth cohort. Data from children aged 12 to 24 months, including oral microbial assays and snack intake information, were analyzed. Sweet and non-sweet indices based on the cariogenic potential of 15 snacks/drinks were created. Mixed-effects models were used to assess the associations between sweet and non-sweet indices and and carriage. Random forest identified predictive factors of microorganism carriage. Higher non-sweet index scores were linked to increased carriage in plaques (OR = 1.67, = 0.01), potentially strengthening with age. Higher sweet index scores at 12 months were associated with increased carriage, reversing at 24 months. Both indices were top predictors of and carriage. These findings underscore the associations between snack intake and cariogenic microorganism carriage and highlight the importance of dietary factors in oral health management for underserved young children with limited access to dental care and healthy foods.