BACKGROUND Lactobacillus spp. play a major role in the development of dental caries. Although effective methods are known for the prevention and management of dental caries, its prevalence of dental caries is increasing amongst school-age children in Ethiopia. Hence, this study is aimed to determine the association of salivary Lactobacillus spp. level and oral health factors as determinants of dental caries amongst primary school children in Harar town, Eastern Ethiopia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst primary school children (n = 407) using a questionnaire survey, clinical DMFT (decayed, missing, filled tooth number) examination and enumeration of salivary level Lactobacillus spp. Data were analyzed by SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science software- version 25.0). The odds ratio was used to determine the predictors of the outcome. The data were expressed as mean ± SD. Statistical significance was defined as a p-value of less than 0.05. RESULTS The prevalence of dental caries was found to be 36.9% amongst primary school children. The mean DMFT value of the participants was 0.95 ± 1.57. The dental decay component was the primary observation that accounted for 84.6% of the DMFT. Almost, 67% of the saliva culture revealed a significant amount of Lactobacillus spp. COUNT The mean bacterial count was found to be 14.92 × 105 ± 22.92 × 105. Among various parameters analysed for association with dental caries, a number of them show positive associtation, incluing reduction in academic scores in the prevous academic year (p = 0.034), grade levels of school children 1-4 (p = 0.041), sweet food consumption habit (p = 0.003), absence of daily teeth cleaning habit (p = 0.002), absence of toothpaste use (p = 0.001), dental ache history (p = < 0.001), significant microbial load of salivary Lactobacillus spp. (p = < 0.001), acidic (p = 0.028) and basic salivary pH (p = 0.025). CONCLUSION A significant salivary Lactobacillus count associated with lower grade level, sweet diet, and poor oral hygiene were found to be the determinant factors for dental caries. Thus, dissemination of oral health information is obligatory to prevent dental caries amongst primary school children in the study area.

中文翻译：

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唾液水平的乳酸杆菌属分析。埃塞俄比亚东部哈拉尔镇小学生龋齿的决定因素和相关因素。

背景技术乳杆菌属。在龋齿的发展中起主要作用。尽管已知预防和管理龋齿的有效方法，但在埃塞俄比亚学龄儿童中其龋齿的患病率正在增加。因此，本研究旨在确定唾液乳杆菌属的关联。埃塞俄比亚东部哈拉尔镇小学生龋齿水平的高低和口腔健康因素。方法采用问卷调查，临床DMFT（衰老，缺失，实齿数）检查和唾液水平乳杆菌属细菌计数对小学生（n = 407）进行横断面研究。通过SPSS（社会科学统计软件包-版本25.0）分析数据。比值比用于确定结果的预测因子。数据表示为平均值±SD。统计显着性定义为p值小于0.05。结果发现小学生中龋齿的患病率为36.9％。参与者的平均DMFT值为0.95±1.57。蛀牙成分是主要观察结果，占DMFT的84.6％。几乎67％的唾液培养物显示出大量的乳酸杆菌属。计数发现细菌平均计数为14.92×105±22.92×105。在与龋齿相关的各种分析参数中，许多参数显示出积极的联想作用，包括上一学年的学业成绩降低（p = 0.034） ，小学生1-4年级（p = 0.041），食用甜食的习惯（p = 0.003），没有日常的牙齿清洁习惯（p = 0.002），没有牙膏的使用（p = 0.001），牙痛病史（p = <0.001），唾液乳杆菌属的微生物含量很高。（p = <0.001），酸性（p = 0.028）和碱性唾液pH（p = 0.025）。结论高唾液乳杆菌计数与低年级水平，良好的饮食习惯和不良的口腔卫生有关，被认为是龋齿的决定性因素。因此，必须传播口腔健康信息，以防止研究区域的小学生龋齿。028）和基本唾液pH（p = 0.025）。结论高唾液乳杆菌计数与低年级水平，良好的饮食习惯和不良的口腔卫生有关，被认为是龋齿的决定性因素。因此，必须传播口腔健康信息，以防止研究区域的小学生龋齿。028）和基本唾液pH（p = 0.025）。结论高唾液乳杆菌计数与低年级水平，良好的饮食习惯和不良的口腔卫生有关，被认为是龋齿的决定性因素。因此，必须传播口腔健康信息，以防止研究区域的小学生龋齿。