Salivary Proteins, Enzymes and Immune Factors Associated With Early Childhood Caries: A Narrative Review

Background: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) has many etiologies such as families’ socioeconomic status, parents’ education and awareness, prolonged improper bottle or breastfeeding, consuming sweet foods high-sugar diets, brushing techniques, immaturity of children’s immune system, family size, Streptococcus mutans. Evidence Acquisition: The data used in our review were searched from articles published between 1950 to 2021 using ECC, children, saliva, salivary biomarkers, enzymes, peptides, proteins, immunity keywords, collected official web pages (Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Google scholar) documents different international institutions. search was limited the English language. After screening abstract, full text 194 related studies reviewed. Finally, 78 most selected. Results Conclusions: ECC-related proteins peptides are Proline-rich mucins, Lactoferrin, immunoglobulins, Toll-like receptors, Lysozyme, Histatins, Statherin, Defensins, Calprotectin, Cytokines. enzymes Amylase, Lactoperoxidase, Alkaline phosphatase, Carbonic anhydrase VI, Lactate dehydrogenase, Glucosyltransferase B. Immunity factors affecting ECC include IgA (sIgA), IgG, IgM, TLRs, Statins, Cytokines interleukins, Cathelicidin (LL-37), Agglutinin, Cysteine, Neutrophils.