Lactobacilli in human dental plaque and saliva.
Lactobacilli were isolated from about 50% of plaques from sound tooth surfaces of human subjects who had ingested fluoride (F) supplements since their births or subjects with negligible systemic fluoride exposure. In about 10% of these plaques, the proportions were 1% or higher of the total flora. Lactobacilli were not always isolated from caries-associated plaques. The mean salivary lactobacillus count of the F-supplement group was comparable to that generally reported for other groups of caries-active subjects with varying caries experience. The findings are discussed in relation to the role of lactobacilli in caries initiation and the anti-caries effect of fluoride supplementation.
D000293:Adolescent; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000166:cytology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*
D005459:Fluorides