Early Childhood Caries- A Review of Its Aetiology, Classification, Consequences, Prevention and Management

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a cause of serious concern globally. It is a major oral health problem affecting the primary dentition of infants and toddlers. At first it appears as white spots along the gingival margin of upper primary incisors. As the disease progresses, the white lesions develop into cavities which gradually enlarges resulting in complete loss of the crown. The major risk factors associated with the aetiology of ECC are classified into microbiological factors, dietary factors and environmental factors. In addition to these, several other contributory factors have been identified. Factors like lack of proper feeding practices, poor socioeconomic conditions, illiterate parents and inability to avail dental care can also contribute to the development of ECC. It is important to maintain the primary dentition in a healthy condition as it is essential for chewing, speech, facial beauty, preservation of space and prevention of abnormal habits. The most common immediate consequence of untreated dental caries is dental pain which disturbs the regular activities of children such as talking, eating, sleeping and playing. Severe ECC can lead to functional, aesthetic and psychological disturbances of the child due to early loss of teeth. ECC is not self-limiting and hence requires treatment to remove infection and restore function. The treatment of ECC includes educating and counseling of mothers, fluoride application, oral hygiene measures, dietary guidance and remedial measures. Since oral health constitutes an integral part of general health, ECC if left untreated can lead to far reaching health issues. This review focuses on the prevalence, aetiology, risk factors, preventive strategies and management of ECC.

Antibacterial Activity of Black Tea Extract against S. mutans, S. aureus, L. acidophilus, Klebsiella and E. coli.

BACKGROUND Drinking tea has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. In addition, tea is also considered beneficial for cardiovascular health and oral health. Health benefits of green tea are attributed to its polyphenol content. Catechins are the major polyphenols in green tea and in black tea the catechins are oxidized to theaflavins. Polyphenols present in tea have exhibited antimicrobial effects against a wide range of pathogenic bacteria. Studies have shown that green tea catechins are bioavailable in both plasma and urine. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the antibacterial activity of black tea extract against standard strains of S. mutans, S. aureus, L. acidophilus, Klebsiella and E. coli.METHODSBlack tea extract was prepared by boiling black tea leaves in distilled water. It was then filtered, and the filtrate was treated with chloroform and ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate was evaporated in a rotary evaporator and a brown coloured residue was obtained. Its antibacterial activity was studied against standard strains of five common bacteria i.e.; S. mutans, L. acidophilus, S. aureus, Klebsiella spp, and E. coli and the MIC of the black tea extract was determined using serial dilution method.RESULTSBlack tea extract showed sufficient antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria. The MIC of black tea extract was lowest against Staphylococcus aureus.CONCLUSIONSTea extracts have significant antimicrobial activity at varying concentrations against different bacterial pathogens.