Early childhood caries (ECC) develops with higher risk in infants who are exposed to the cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans prior to the accepted “window of infectivity,” generally thought to occur on average at 27 months. Some 30% of infants are infected by the age of 6 months. While many mothers understand that placing a baby to bed with a bottle filled with milk can increase the risk of ECC, they continue to do so, fearful that interrupting the sleep of the infant can be a problem. In this study, infant tooth wipes were designed to be used with infants from 8 to 15 months old and were compared with tooth brushing as a way to remove plaque and reduce caries in this population. Thirty-five healthy and caries-free infants who had nightly feeding behaviors with potential increased risk of caries alternately used tooth wipes and toothbrushing with paste to determine whether either was preferred by parent and/or child. The children were assigned to one cleaning method. Disclosing solution was used to measure plaque, then was wiped off with water-soaked gauze pads. After a 48- to 72-hour resting period, the alternate method was used on the infants. Cleanings were performed at bedtime, after children were put to sleep with a bottle containing milk. Parents completed nightly questionnaires to gauge ongoing satisfaction. The study found that the tooth wipes were preferred after the nightly feedings and removed as much plaque as brushing. Parents reported that using the wipes did not disturb the infants’ sleep. There were no erupted primary molar teeth in any of the subjects, and only anterior teeth were part of the study. The wipes contained an aqueous solution of 25% xylitol and 10% sorbitol. Studies indicate a decline in levels of S mutans in saliva and plaque with regular use of xylitol, which seems to inhibit the interaction between the cariogenic bacteria and the pellicle.
(Source: Dental Abstracts, 2008, Volume 54, Issue 3)
