Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of oral hygine, elapsed time after meals, elapsed time after tooth brushing with or without tooth paste on the caries activity tests scores.
The caries activity tests were performed on 100 children (male: 49, female: 51) ranging in age from 3 years to 17 years 6 months (average: 7 years 3 months). The caries activity tests used in this study were MSB broth (Mucount: Showa), Resazurin Disc test (RD test: Showa) and Cariostat (Cariostat TM: Sankin). The following results were obtained.
1. The influence of oral hygine on the test scores was significant only in the 48hour scores of Cariostat.
2. The influence of the elapsed time after tooth brushing on the test scores was significant only in the 48 hour scores of Cariostat.
3. Elapsed time after meals and whether brushing was done with or without tooth paste did not influence on the scores of all the caries activity tests.
4. For using the caries activity tests, plaque and saliva should not be collected soon after tooth brushing and soon after taking meals.
