Mothers may pass on germs to babies by kissing

Friday January 04, 2008 (1155 PST)

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ISLAMABAD: When mothers kiss their babies or taste food to make sure it’s cool enough for toothless gums and tender mouths, they may pass on germs that will decay teeth when they sprout, researchers say.

A new study at the LSU Health Sciences Center dental school will look at whether babies whose mothers regularly use antibiotic mouthwash or chew sugarless gum wind up as toddlers with less tooth decay.

The babies will be very young when they start in the study, and will be checked every six months or so for at least two years, said Dr. Paul Fidel, the dental school’s associate dean for research.

He said the mouthwash-gum study will look at 250 mothers and their babies.

Some will get mouthwash with the antibiotic chlorohexidine. Some will get sugar-free chewing gum with the sweetener xylitol. Some will get both, and some will get neither.

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