Relationship among Dental Plaque Composition, Daily Sugar Exposure and Caries in the Primary Dentition

Abstract

The relationship among daily sugar exposure, dental plaque composition and caries patterns in the primary dentition is not known. Three groups of 20 children (18–48 months old) were studied: (1) caries-free (CF), (2) presenting pit and fissure caries (PFC), and (3) with nursing caries (NC). Dental caries index (dmfs) was assessed and the frequency of daily sugar exposure (TS) and its forms were estimated by questionnaires. Fluoride (F), calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorus (P_i), insoluble polysaccharide (IP) and mutans streptococci were quantified in dental plaque. The three groups of children were statistically different regarding daily sugar exposure. Concentrations of F, Ca and P_i were lower and the IP and mutans streptococci statistically higher in dental plaque from NC children than those from CF children. PFC children also showed statistically lower F and P levels in their plaque than CF children. Statistically significant correlations were found between IP, TS and dmfs from NC and PFC children. A statistically significant correlation between mutans streptococci in plaque from anterior teeth and dmfs for NC children was also observed. These results suggest that the dietary sugar experience changes the biochemical and microbiological composition of dental plaque, which could partly explain the different caries patterns observed in primary dentition.

An in vitro microbial model associated with sucrose to produce dentin caries lesions

“…Insoluble extracellular polysaccharides can change the properties of the biofilm matrix [12], enhancing bacterial adherence [26], and causing the accumulation of large numbers of cariogenic streptococci on the teeth of human subjects [27,28]. The findings of the present study ( Figure 3) confirm previous results indicating that EPS is produced in larger amounts in the presence of sucrose [29,30], and are consistent with the role of this kind of polysaccharide in the caries development.…”

The hdrRM Operon of Streptococcus mutans Encodes a Novel Regulatory System for Coordinated Competence Development and Bacteriocin Production

“…Streptococcus mutans is a gram-positive oral commensal species often associated with the development of dental caries (tooth decay) (2,3,22,25,30,32,36). Similar to numerous other species of Streptococcus, S. mutans is naturally competent and thus actively internalizes exogenous DNA from the environment, which can lead to genetic transformation (6).…”

Characterization of irvR , a Novel Regulator of the irvA -Dependent Pathway Required for Genetic Competence and Dextran-Dependent Aggregation in Streptococcus mutans

“…Each of these irvR mutant phenotypes could be rescued with a double mutation of irvA or complemented by introducing a wild-type copy of irvR on a shuttle vector. These data indicate that the repression of irvA is critically dependent upon irvR and that irvA repression is essential for the development of genetic competence and the proper control of DDAG in S. mutans.Streptococcus mutans is a gram-positive oral commensal species found in human dental plaque and is primarily associated with the initiation of caries development (tooth decay) (3,8,28,30,38, 41,45). Certain species, such as S. mutans, have a much greater capacity to both excrete acidic metabolites (acidogenic) and proliferate in an acidic environment (aciduric) and thus, can gain a competitive advantage over nonaciduric species (2,29).…”

“…Streptococcus mutans is a gram-positive oral commensal species found in human dental plaque and is primarily associated with the initiation of caries development (tooth decay) (3,8,28,30,38, 41,45). Certain species, such as S. mutans, have a much greater capacity to both excrete acidic metabolites (acidogenic) and proliferate in an acidic environment (aciduric) and thus, can gain a competitive advantage over nonaciduric species (2,29).…”