Associations of microbiological factors and plaque index with caries prevalence and water fluoridation status

Abstract

Plaque indices, numbers of mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and total viable flora in plaque and saliva were assessed as part of a large-scale cross-sectional study designed to determine the factors that are associated with high caries activity in children. Subjects, 12 to 15 years old, residing in areas where the water supplies were either fluoridated (n = 140) or fluoride-deficient (n = 173) were studied. Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli numbers in saliva were positively correlated with plaque index. Plaque indices were significantly higher in the high-caries group than in the zero-caries group of the fluoride-deficient community. In the fluoridated community, there was no difference in the plaque index between the zero- or high-caries groups. In each community, pooled dental plaque and saliva harbored fewer mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in the zero-caries than the high-caries group. Greater numbers of mutans streptococci were found in the dental plaque and saliva of the zero-caries subjects in the fluoridated community than in the fluoride-deficient community, suggesting that a greater caries challenge can coexist with zero-caries status in the fluoridated community.

Elevated antibody to D-alanyl lipoteichoic acid indicates caries experience associated with fluoride and gingival health

“…High IgG antibody responders are therefore better protected from caries in an optimally fluoridated environment. The concept that fluoride protects better from caries in a low pH environment [12] was recently used to explain why there is a poor association between caries experience and pH fall after a 10% sucrose rinse [33]. In low responders, increased fluoride exposure from dentriflce use to maintain oral health, or from water fluoridation, associate relatively poorly with caries experience.…”

“…The D-alanyl LTA antibody response is not detectable in saliva (unpublished studies), but it can be measured from only a thumb-prick of blood. Longitudinal studies of the D-alanyl LTA response in children could improve current efforts to predict caries susceptibility by relating it to fluoride or the fluoride ion product for fluoroapatite in saliva and the pH change after a sucrose rinse [5,12,13,33]. …”

“…The number of these bacteria (mostly mutans streptococci and lactobacilli), and the fluoride content, discriminate between severe and mild caries in 12–15 year-old children [12,13]. Acid-tolerant bacteria require D-alanyl glycerol lipoteichoic acid (D-alanyl LTA) in their membranes and cell surfaces [14].…”

Salivary Glucosyltransferase B as a Possible Marker for Caries Activity

“…For example, some tests determine the salivary and plaque populations of cariogenic micro-organisms such as lactobacilli and streptococci [Rogosa et al, 1951;Duchin and van Houte, 1978;Köhler and Bratthall, 1979;Beighton, 1991;Eisenberg et al, 1991;Leverett et al, 1993a, b]. Other methods have been used to identify aciduric and acidogenic organisms in saliva or in plaque, such as the Swab test and the Snyder test [Snyder, 1951;Grainger et al, 1965].…”

Caries prediction model in pre‐school children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…Large amounts of data from the many studies on caries prediction show that these have included the following risk factors: the level of oral hygiene, dietary habits, use of¯uorides, use of the nursing bottle, snacks after meals, early or late use of uoride dentri®ce, education level of mothers, and the mother's salivary level of mutans streptococci [5,43± 53]. Speci®c risk-assessment models have been suggested by Holbrook et al [50], Alaluusua & Malmivirta [52], Grindefjord et al [53], Esenberg et al [54] and Leverett et al [55] with emphasis on plaque index, misuse of sugar such as in infant feeding bottle, frequent snacking and frequent use of soft drinks.…”