title: Intraindividual variations in counts of mutans streptococci measured by "Strip mutans" method.
abstract: Intraindividual variations in the mutans streptococci measured by Strip mutans, in a 1-day and a 5-day period, as well as the effect of toothbrushing, were investigated. 30 subjects participated, and their levels of salivary mutans were estimated by a scale containing four steps. With the exception of three comparisons, time intervals of different lengths did not cause a deviation of more than one step. Comparisons made before and after toothbrushing yielded the same score in 22 cases, whereas two subjects showed a discrepancy of two steps. Clearly, in a short-term perspective, variations can certainly be found, but more pronounced discrepancies are rare.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Faculty of Odontology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: el-Nadeef
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bratthall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors; D014099:Toothbrushing
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D011934:Reagent Strips