Evaluation of antifungal activity of six children's toothpaste on Candida albicans isolated from early childhood caries patients.

BACKGROUND: Early childhood caries (ECC) is an aggressive, destructive form of dental caries that affects the children younger than 6 years of age. Candida is known to increase the adherence of Streptococcus mutans to the oral biofilm and produce acids that cause tooth demineralization. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the efficacy of six commercially available children's toothpaste on clinical isolates of Candida albicans obtained from ECC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population comprised 60 children aged 3-6 years having ECC. Samples were divided into six groups comprising ten children in each group. Samples were collected using sterile cotton swabs, inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar, and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Species identification was done by germ tube test and growth on corn meal agar. After the confirmed growth of C. albicans, the six commercially available children's toothpaste namely Organic Children's Coconut Oil Toothpaste®, Aloe Dent Children's Toothpaste®, Patanjali Dant Kanti Junior Toothpaste®, Colgate Kids Toothpaste®, Pediflor Kids Toothpaste®, and Crest Pro-Health Stages Kids Toothpaste® and distilled water as control group were subjected for antifungal activity of C. albicans. Agar plates were incubated at 37°C for 48 h, and the diameter of the zones of inhibition was measured and recorded. Data were tabulated and statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Science (16.0) version. RESULTS: Pediflor kids toothpaste® showed maximum antifungal activity and Aloe Dent children's toothpaste® showed minimum antifungal activity. CONCLUSION: All brands of children's toothpaste show antifungal activity against Candida albicans.

Awareness of Dental Trauma Management among School Teachers of Kannur, Kerala, India.

INTRODUCTION: Dental trauma can overtake dental caries and periodontal disease as the most significant threat to dental health among young people. The prognosis of traumatized teeth depends on prompt and appropriate treatment. The role of school teachers in the prevention of traumatic dental injuries is a topic that has received a great deal of attention in recent years. However, studies conducted in different regions of the world have demonstrated that teachers and other lay people's knowledge about traumatic dental injuries is inadequate and their behavior does not contribute to reduce the sequelae. AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of school teachers about dental trauma and its management in Kannur district. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The survey was conducted under the Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry; Kannur Dental College among 303 school teachers randomly selected from 16 schools. Four schools were selected from 16 schools using stratified cluster sampling technique. A cross sectional study design was used. A stratified cluster sampling method was done to select the study subjects. The nature and purpose of the study was first explained to the teachers in local language. Following this the printed questionnaire was distributed to school teachers. The questionnaire was prepared based on the needs of the study after referring similar questionnaires used in studies conducted in different parts of the world. RESULTS: A statistically significant association was found between the teacher's knowledge regarding trauma and their teaching experience. Out of the total school teachers who participated in the study, 90.1% responded correctly that the teeth most frequently affected by traumatic accidents are the upper front teeth. Nearly 23.4% responded correctly regarding management of traumatic tooth fracture. Almost 46.5% had correct knowledge regarding the reimplantation of avulsed permanent teeth. Only 14.2% responded correctly to the proper storage medium for avulsed teeth. CONCLUSION: It was concluded from the study that among the school teachers surveyed there was significantly very low knowledge of emergency management of dental trauma.

The knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the pediatric preventive dental care amongst medical practitioners: a cross sectional study

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease affecting the children today. Many dental problems can be effectively prevented in children if they are detected early. Medical practitioners play a major role in the primary care of the child and are well positioned to recognize potential problems, encourage preventive care and refer appropriately. So the present survey was conducted among Medical practitioners in Kannur, Kerala to determine their knowledge, attitude and practice in Pediatric preventive dental care.o assess the attitude and practice of dental professionals towards using of advance Radiographic technique.