- We have seen that the bacteria in the oral cavity differ. You have other and fewer bacteria if you are born with Caesarean section. In case of a vaginal delivery, the baby receives the bacteria from the mother while in a caesarean section instead they receive it from the environment and the skin, says Katarina Boustedt, specialist dentist and one of the researchers behind the study.

"Do not reduce the number of cesarean sections"

In total, they have followed 346 children from birth and five years ahead. One third of them are born with caesarean sections. Measurements on the children were made when they were two, three and four years old. The result shows that those born with Caesarean section and had more teeth in the teeth of the other children.

The way you are born is not the only thing that controls whether you get caries or not. Diet and use of float toothpaste also come into play. But for researchers it is important to know all the factors in order to be able to give good advice, says Katarina Boustedt.

- It is important to point out that this is not about reducing the number of cesarean sections. By working early on prevention, our goal is to reduce the incidence of caries in all children in Halland, she says.

Has not reached the goal

It has already been established that caries in milk teeth increase the risk of caries in permanent teeth. Caries among children overall have long been on the way down. But in recent years, the curve has reversed, mainly in the case of six-year-olds.

- If you look at that group you have a little more than a quarter caries. The World Health Organization aims to have 80 percent of all children who are caries-free in 2020. Although we have good conditions, we have not yet reached this in Sweden, says Katarina Boustedt.

The Caries survey is part of the large growth study that is being done in the county. The researchers have also looked more closely at childhood obesity, something that SVT News Halland previously reported.