Influence of rampant caries in dams on caries activity in their offspring.

Available evidence indicates that infants, for the most part, acquire their oral flora, in particular Streptococcus mutans, from their mothers. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of rampant caries in rat dams on subsequent caries activity in their offspring. Rampant caries was induced by surgical desalivation of four dams, and subsequent infection with Streptococcus sobrinus 6715. Two intact dams served as controls. Desalivated dams, having rampant caries, reared litters that experienced significantly higher caries scores (P = 0.0001) on smooth and sulcal surfaces than litters from intact dams. Fluoride given to the dams did not affect caries scores of their pups. The results suggest that the magnitude and virulence of the maternal reservoir of S. sobrinus is a critical factor in the primary infection and caries activity in the offspring. Results support the concept that caries activity in mothers should be controlled in any program designed to prevent caries in infants and children.