The early establishment of Streptococcus mutans in the mouths of infants

Berkowitz, Robert J.; Jordan, H.V.; White, G.E.

doi:10.1016/0003-9969(75)90005-9

Cited by 166 publications

(109 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…This contradiction is probably because the source of transmission is very variable, depending on behavior: the frequency of salivary contact between mother and child and a mother's salivary MS level mutans streptococci (16) and cultural and environmental conditions of the population studied (8,18,24). Furthermore, variability in transmission can be associated with children's individual susceptibilities, including the period defined as a window of infectivity (5), which was reported to be earlier in Brazilian children (27); the number of erupted teeth (3,5); the emergence of molars (5); the presence of enamel hypoplasia (23); sucrose consumption (27); the action of unspecific factors of the salivary and mucosal immune systems (21); and immunological conditions in children (32).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal Study of Transmission, Diversity, and Stability of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus Genotypes in Brazilian Nursery Children

et al. 2004

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The aim of this study was to perform a follow-up evaluation of the Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus colonization profile of children's oral cavities, which included the pattern of vertical transmission from mother to child, genotypic diversity, and stability of the strains. The subjects were 16 mother-child pairs, who were monitored for 20 months. Samples of saliva, tongue dorsum, alveolar ridge mucosa, and dental plaque from the children were collected bimonthly. Saliva samples from the mothers were also collected. After isolation and identification, the arbitrarily primed PCR method was performed for the genotypic characterization of S. mutans (968 isolates) and S. sobrinus (111 isolates). At the time the strains were acquired, the children harbored one to four distinct genotypes of S. mutans and only one genotype of S. sobrinus. Although S. mutans prevalence and genotypic diversity were greater than those of S. sobrinus, the presence of matching genotypes of S. mutans and S. sobrinus was similar (in 81.25 and 83.33% of mother-child pairs, respectively), suggesting vertical transmission for both species. This longitudinal study showed an increase in genotypic diversity of S. mutans in the oral cavity during the follow-up period: most of the initially acquired genotypes persisted, normally those genotypes transmitted by the mother, and some were lost during follow-up; new strains were also acquired. In conclusion, S. mutans and S. sobrinus genotypes acquired from maternal or alternative sources may show effective persistence in the oral cavity and/or transitory detection in the children's mouths, reflecting the continuous development of oral microbiota in children.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal Study of Transmission, Diversity, and Stability of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus Genotypes in Brazilian Nursery Children

et al. 2004

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria were isolated more commonly, and a greater diversity of species were recovered from around the gingival margin of the newly erupted teeth (mean age of the infants = 32 months) (26). Also, mutans streptococci and S. sanguis appear in the mouth following tooth eruption (27,28). These findings confirm that a change in the environment, such as the eruption of teeth, has a significant ecological impact on the resident microflora.…”

Section: Development Of the Resident Oral Microfloramentioning

confidence: 60%

“…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).…”

Section: Development Of the Resident Oral Microfloramentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of the Oral Microflora in Health

Marsh¹

2000

Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease

102

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The mouth contains both distinct mucosal (lips, cheek, tongue, palate) and, uniquely, non-shedding surfaces (teeth) for microbial colonisation. Each surface harbours a diverse but characteristic microflora, the composition and metabolism of which is dictated by the biological properties of each site. The resident oral microflora develops in an orderly manner via waves of microbial succession (both autogenic and allogenic). Pioneer species (many of which are sIgA protease-producing streptococci) colonise saliva-coated surfaces through specific stereo-chemical, adhesin-receptor interactions. The metabolism of these organisms modifies local environmental conditions, facilitating subsequent attachment and growth by later, and more fastidious, colonisers. Eventually, a stable biofilm community develops, that plays an active role in (a) the normal development of the physiology of the habitat, and (b) the innate host defences (colonisation resistance). Thus, when considering treatment options, clinicians should be aware of the need to maintain the beneficial properties of the resident oral microflora.

show abstract

“…In recent decades the process has been much better defined from several aspects including microbiology, saliva, tooth mineral composition, tooth ultrastructure, diffusion processes, kinetics of demineralization, the reversal of demineralization that is known as remineralization, and factors that contribute to the reversal of the process. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Now, we have a rather deep understanding of what goes on in the mouth, but this knowledge is far from being effectively utilized in dental practice.…”

Section: What Is Dental Caries and What Do We Know About It?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bacteria are transferred to babies from mothers or caregivers very early in the child's life, with colonization of soft tissues possible even before the teeth erupt. 8,10,18 As the teeth erupt the cariogenic bacteria colonize them, establish as dental plaque, and the cycle of destruction begins.…”

Section: What Is Dental Caries and What Do We Know About It?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Dental caries: a dynamic disease process

Featherstone

2008

Australian Dental Journal

542

357

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dental caries is a transmissible bacterial disease process caused by acids from bacterial metabolism diffusing into enamel and dentine and dissolving the mineral. The bacteria responsible produce organic acids as a by-product of their metabolism of fermentable carbohydrates. The caries process is a continuum resulting from many cycles of demineralization and remineralization. Demineralization begins at the atomic level at the crystal surface inside the enamel or dentine and can continue unless halted with the end-point being cavitation. There are many possibilities to intervene in this continuing process to arrest or reverse the progress of the lesion. Remineralization is the natural repair process for non-cavitated lesions, and relies on calcium and phosphate ions assisted by fluoride to rebuild a new surface on existing crystal remnants in subsurface lesions remaining after demineralization. These remineralized crystals are acid resistant, being much less soluble than the original mineral.

show abstract

The early establishment of Streptococcus mutans in the mouths of infants

Cited by 166 publications

References 21 publications

Longitudinal Study of Transmission, Diversity, and Stability of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus Genotypes in Brazilian Nursery Children

Longitudinal Study of Transmission, Diversity, and Stability of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus Genotypes in Brazilian Nursery Children

Role of the Oral Microflora in Health

Dental caries: a dynamic disease process

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About