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Updated: May 12, 2026

Examination of Oral Candida Infection in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome Patients
Published on: March 1, 2024
Salivary Candida, caries and Candida in toothbrushes
Tal Ratson1, Ronit Bar-Ness Greenstein, Yardena Mazor
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Background:
Candida species are common inhabitants of the normal oral microbiota. A few studies founded a relationship between high levels of Candida albicans in the oral cavity and high DMF scores. Toothbrushes can also be reservoirs of microorganisms, the proliferation of these microorganism on a toothbrush could be a major factor for its distribution in the oral cavity.
Aim:
To examine the associations between salivary Candida and DMF, and between salivary Candida and Candida in the toothbrush.
Method:
46 healthy school children, who attended a University pediatric dental clinic, were tested for Candida in their saliva and in their toothbrush. Their DMF was recorded.
Results:
38 children were Candida-positive (79.2%), out of whom 5 demonstrated a positive growth of Candida in the toothbrushes. No correlation was found between Candida in the saliva and in the toothbrush. The number of Candida-positive girls was significantly higher than the number in boys. No significant relationship between caries experience and the presence of Candida was found
Conclusions:
No correlation was found between Candida in the saliva and in the toothbrush. The origin of the Candida in the toothbrush is not totally clear.
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