Investigation of Colonization of Streptococcus Mutans, Lactobacillus Spp. and Candida Spp. in Oral Microflora in Infancy and Transmission From the Parent to the Infant

Study sample size and design: When α = 0.05, 1-β (power) = 0.80 were taken to determine the sample volume, it was calculated that at least 46 babies should be sampled for 6 months to have an average amount of S. mutans change of 1.87 units. Considering the losses that may occur during the follow-up, the study was started by taking samples from 60 systemically healthy newborns.

The study commenced with 60 newborns and was completed with 47 infants due to losses during the follow-up. Oral swab samples were taken from 47 healthy infants within the first 24 hours after birth, at 1 month old and during the first tooth eruption. Saliva samples were taken from the mothers of all the infants and from the fathers of 20 of the infants in the last meeting.

Last interview with the parents, their oral examinations were performed, and their findings were processed as decayed (D), filled (F) and missing (M) teeth in accordance with the World Health Organization criteria, with the DMF (decayed, missing and filled) index being calculated. Furthermore, saliva samples were taken from the parents at the last interview. A questionnaire form including the sex of the infant, type of delivery, birth weight, and nutritional habits of the infant during the follow-up was filled in by gaining information from the parents on the first day and during the follow-ups.

Swab samples taken from infants with sterile swabs were transferred to the laboratory by placing sterile saline solution into dispensed 2 ml screw cap tubes. Sterile urine collection containers of 50 ml were used to collect saliva samples from the parents.