NEW YORK, US/KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait: Research has demonstrated the link between Candida albicans and severe early childhood caries. However, although C. albicans starts colonising the mouth from birth, it is unclear what role mothers play in transmitting this pathogenic fungus to their offspring. A recent study conducted at universities in the US and Kuwait suggests that infants are more likely to inherit C. albicans from their mothers if maternal dental hygiene is lacking.