Evaluation of the relationship between salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans, statherin, and cathelicidin LL-37 and early childhood caries

There was no statistically significant difference in salivary statherin levels between the two groups, but salivary cathelicidin LL-37 levels were significantly higher in the ECC group (p = 0.024). The ECC group had significantly elevated S. mutans levels compared to the non-ECC group (p < 0.05). The frequency of sugar-containing foods and/or beverages consumed more than three times a day between meals was statistically significantly higher in the ECC group compared to the non-ECC group (p = 0.021). The statistical analysis also revealed a positive correlation between the dmfs score and age (p = 0.022).