Streptococcus sobrinus as a Predominant Oral Bacteria Related to the Occurrence of Dental Caries in Polish Children at 12 Years Old

Abstract

Dental caries is listed by the WHO as one of the major non-communicable diseases that need to be prevented and treated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of caries expressed as the Decayed, Missing and Filled Permanent Teeth (DMFT) index in 12-year-old Polish children and to verify bacterial species related to the occurrence of dental caries. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of DNA isolated from saliva samples was performed to detect 8 cariogenic and periopathogenic bacterial strains. A total of 118 Polish children were enrolled in the study. They had low mean DMFT scores of 1.58 ± 1.98. The prevalence of dental caries in the children tested was low (53.4%), with a tendency to decrease compared to previous oral surveys. Bacterial abundance of other species in the dental caries and caries-free groups did not differ; however, periopathogenic Prevotella pallens, Fusobacterium nucleatum along with cariogenic Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus fermentum were significantly strongly correlated in the caries-active subjects. The prevalence of S. sobrinus was significantly higher in children with dental caries (p = 0.023) and correlated with higher DMFT. It may temporarily play an important role in the initiation of the cariogenic process or in its enhancement due to an ecological imbalance in dental microbiota.

Relationship between dental caries experience and the levels of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacillus in saliva of pregnant women

“…As the amounts of these bacteria increased, so did the risk of caries. Other studies have also shown a link between these bacteria and the development of caries (1,48,49).…”

Probiotics Partly Suppress the Impact of Sugar Stress on the Oral Microbiota—A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial

“…sobrinus was significantly more abundant in the placebo group versus the probiotic group after 14 days of sugar stress (p = 0.004) and after 14 days of discontinuation of sugar stress (p = 0.008), respectively (Figure 4C,D). S. sobrinus is associated with dental caries and is closely related to the most prominent cariogenic species, Streptococcus mutans [32,[38][39][40][41]. In contrast, a significantly higher abundance of S. gordonii was recorded in the probiotic group after 14 days of sugar rinsing (p = 0.008) and was again recorded in the 14 days without sugar stress (p = 0.03).…”

Antibacterial Properties of the Antimicrobial Peptide Gallic Acid-Polyphemusin I (GAPI)

“…S. sobrinus is capable of producing acid and is acid tolerant [ 53 ]. Several studies have indicated a significant association between S. sobrinus and caries, thereby showing that S. sobrinus is more effective in promoting caries than S. mutans [ 54 ]. Regardless, S. mutans and S. sobrinus have been implicated as the primary cariogenic microorganisms in biofilm.…”