Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Collecting Saliva and Measuring Salivary Cortisol and Alpha-amylase in Frail Community Residing Older Adults via Family Caregivers
Published on: December 18, 2013
Association between salivary cortisol level and caries in early childhood
S Caruso1, R Gatto1, B Cinque1
1Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L´Aquila, L´Aquila, Italy.
Aim:
The present study aimed to evaluate the association between caries and oral health status, age, salivary cortisol levels, and parental education in children with and without prior dental caries experience.
Materials And Methods:
An observational case-control study was performed including 122 children aged between 3 and 6 years who were clinically examined for caries experience using the sum of decayed, missing, and filled teeth in the primary (dmft index) and permanent (DMFT index) dentition. Oral health status was also evaluated using the Simplified Oral Hygiene index (OHI-S). Parents filled a questionnaire to provide information on other variables. Salivary cortisol levels were estimated 1 h after routine dental brushing.
Results:
We found that dental caries experience was associated with cortisol level, plaque, age, and high calculus levels. High cortisol levels and age are important risk factors for caries development with odds ratios of 3.05 (95% CI: 1.84-5.06) and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.09-2.58), respectively. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that cortisol level and age were independently associated with caries presence. Caries experience was not associated with education of parents, feeding-hygiene habits of child or birth events.
Conclusion:
The present findings support the hypothesis that caries is mainly correlated with high salivary cortisol levels. Dental caries experience in children was also positively associated with tartar, plaque, and age.
Related Concept Videos
Salivary Glands and Saliva
Associative Learning
Classical conditioning, also known...
Association Areas of the Cortex
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Childhood
The first four of Erikson's eight...
Leveling Effect
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

