Oral streptococcal colonization of infants

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and proportions of different streptococcal species among the streptococcal flora during infancy. A total of 60 oral samples were collected by oral swabbing of the buccal mucosa and alveolar ridges of 18 infants before tooth eruption and from buccal and lingual surfaces of teeth after tooth eruption. A total of 549 isolates on mitis salivarius agar were speciated, principally by recently revised biochemical criteria of Kilian et al. Streptococcus mitis biovar 1 predominated, both in prevalence (89%) and proportion of oral streptococci recovered in each sample (median = 87% of streptococcal flora). Streptococcus salivarius was also prevalent (94%) but generally represented a small percentage of the total streptococcal flora (median = 3%). Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus anginosus strains were detected in approximately one third of predentate and dentate infants in the first year of life. Streptococcus sanguis strains were not detected before tooth eruption, but could be detected in 7/14 of the infants with teeth. Thus, S. mitis constitutes the major component of the initially colonizing streptococcal microbiota of the young infant.

Biotechnological Applications of Two Novel Lytic Bacteriophages of Streptococcus mutans in Tooth Decay Bio-Controlling

“…While some of oral Streptococci such as mutans Streptococci, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, are responsible for dental diseases (Milnes et al, 1993;Smith et al, 1993;Jacques, 1998;Van der Ploeg, 2008) others like Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus gordonii are the first bacteria that colonize the teeth (Nyvad and Kilian, 1990;Tanzer et al, 2001; Van der Ploeg, 2008). There are nonspecific strategies like tooth brushing and rinsing with biocides for reduction of Streptococcus mutans from dental plaque.…”

Role of the Oral Microflora in Health

“…In the mouth, the predominant pioneer organisms are streptococci and in particular, S. sali6arius, S. mitis and S. oralis (19,20). Some pioneer streptococci possess IgA 1 protease activity (21), which may enable producer and neighbouring organisms to evade the effects of this key host defence factor that coats most oral surfaces.…”

“…In allogenic succession, factors of non-microbial origin are responsible for an altered pattern of community development. For example, mutans streptococci and S. sanguis only appear in the mouth following tooth eruption (19,27,28) or the insertion of artificial devices such as acrylic obturators in children with cleft palate. Community development is also influenced by microbial factors (autogenic succession).…”

Role of Mothers in Prevention of Dental Caries: A Systematic Review

“…The mother is found to be a primary source of infection of dental caries for her children. The source of infection is Mutans streptococcus found in mother's saliva [13][14][15][16][17] and usually detected in infants' mouth after primary tooth eruption [18,19]. Research studies have shown that mothers with high concentrations of salivary mutans streptococci are at high risk of transmitting infection to their children as compared to mothers with low levels of salivary mutans streptococci and their children are at a greater risk of developing a large number of carious lesions in the primary dentition at a young age [20][21][22][23][24].…”