Study of microflora in well-nourished and mal-nourished children in relation to dental caries.

Forty-five children in the age group of 2-12 years comprising 20 well-nourished (W.N.), 20 malnourished (M.N.) (both groups having DMFS of > or = 5) and 5 caries free well nourished children (control group) were studied to find out the oral microflora in these groups S. mutans was present in 55%, 20% and 0% in W.N., M.N., and control groups while S. Salivarius was isolated in 45%, 80% and 40% in the three groups respectively. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of Lactobacillus and C. albicans in the three groups. The correlation between means DMFS and the prevalence of S. mutans in W.N. and M.N. groups was highly significant (P < 0.001). Nutritional status including different grades of malnutrition had no significant bearing on the prevalence of micro-organisms isolated. The caries prevalence was higher in the W.N. group (P) while the gingival index was higher in M.N. group.