Abstract
A study was made on some oral facters considered to be related to incidences of dental caries with three-year-old children in nursery school as the subjects. Positive correlation existed between the number of decayed teeth, the percentage of Streptococcus mutans to the total Streptococci in the dental plaque on the buccal side of the maxillary molar region, and Cariostat test. The plaque index for the labial side of the maxillary anterior teeth region did not show any correlation with the number of decayed teeth, the percentage of S. mutans to the total Streptococci in the dental plaque on the buccal side of the maxillary molar region, or Cariostat test. This plaque index proved to be inappropriate as an index for the oral environment. No correlation was either observed between dmft and the preference patterns for five varieties of snack. However, a strong preference for chocolate was observed in the group with a higher percentage of S. mutans to the total Streptococci in the dental plaque on the buccal side of the maxillary molar region. The group with Cariostat 2+ also showed a particular preference for chocolate.
