Maternal chronic stress linked to more dental cavities in children

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-09/kcl-mcs091615.php

Public Release: 17-Sep-2015
Maternal chronic stress linked to more dental cavities in children
King's College London

Chronic maternal stress, when measured by biological markers, has been found for the first time to be associated with a higher prevalence of cavities among children, according to a study by King's College London and University of Washington. Chronic stress was also found to be linked to lower probabilities of breast feeding and dental visits by children, according to the research published today in the American Journal of Public Health.

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Researchers found that dental cavities were more common among children whose mother had two or more biological markers of chronic stress, an incident known as allostatic load (AL), compared to no markers of AL: 44.2% vs. 27.9% respectively. Additional analysis tested the association between maternal AL and care-taking behaviours, such as breast feeding, dental visits, and eating breakfast daily. They identified that dental cavities were more common among children whose mother did not breastfeed them, than those who did: 62.9% vs. 37.1% respectively. Mothers who had one and two or more markers of AL were significantly less likely to breastfeed than those with a normal AL level.

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Dr Sabbah added: 'Our study indicated that mothers with lower income were significantly less likely to breastfeed or to have taken their child to the dentist in the prior year. They were also less likely to feed their child breakfast than higher income counterparts. It is important to better understand the dynamics of these links, so that we might develop effective public health programs and interventions.'

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