Which children are three times more likely to develop dental disease?

• A. One born to mothers with untreated dental disease during pregnancy
• B. Children with healthy mothers
• C. Children with early fluoride exposure
• D. Children with no sugar intake

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that a child’s risk of dental disease can be strongly influenced by the mother’s oral health, because bacteria that cause caries can be passed from mother to child. If a mother has untreated dental disease during pregnancy, her higher bacterial load, including cariogenic bacteria, increases the likelihood that the child will acquire these bacteria early. Once the child’s teeth erupt, these bacteria can metabolize sugars and produce acids that demineralize enamel, leading to caries. This can result in a threefold higher risk of dental disease compared with children whose mothers have healthier oral health.

In contrast, having a healthy mother, getting early fluoride exposure, or avoiding excessive sugar all work to reduce caries risk, rather than increase it.