Relationship between Interdental Spacing and Colonization by Streptococcus mutans in Children

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between interdental spacing in the upper incisors and other associated factors with colonization by Streptococcus mutans in children. A total of 47 children aged between 24 and 36 months with no decayed cavities were enrolled in the study. Models were obtained to evaluate interdental spacing in the upper anterior region. The relationships between S. mutans colonization and number of erupted teeth, interdental spacing, diet, and oral hygiene behavior were investigated. S. mutans was detected in the saliva of 14 children (29.8%). No sociodemographic variable was associated with colonization by S. mutans. Neither number of erupted teeth nor children's age showed an influence on colonization by S. mutans. However, children with interdental spacing in the upper incisors were less likely to show colonization by S. mutans (15.8%) than those without (39.3%). Furthermore, children who ceased breast-and/or bottle-feeding by 15 months of age were less likely to show colonization by S. mutans (22.7%) than those who continued feeding until 19 months of age or more (46.2%).