EVALUATION OF TRANSMISSION OF STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS TO CHILDREN: EFFECTIVE FACTORS AND WINDOW OF INFECTIVITY

Dental caries is a transmissible infectious disease. a group of phenotypically similar bacterias, that has been responsible bacterias for dental caries in humans, was determined and called mutans streptococci. the colonization of mutans streptococci. especially consist in a specific period which is continued between 19 and 31 months of children and called window of infectivity. the saliva transfer is the main factor for transmission of mutans streptococci. the major source for transmission of mutans streptococci to children is thought to be their mothers due to intimate contact. however, considering of genotypes in children shown that mutans streptococci may also be transferred from other sources. essential to the development of strategies for the prevention of dental caries, the identification of effective sources must be known in transition of mutans streptococci. the aim of this review is the determination of factors that associated with the transmission of the mutans streptococci in children.