title: Effects of sugar restriction on Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus in saliva and dental plaque.
abstract: The effect of sugar restriction on the oral levels of mutans streptococci was studied in 20 subjects fulfilling three criteria: (1) having more than 300,000 CFU mutans streptococci/ml saliva, (2) harbouring both Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus in saliva, and (3) eating sugar frequently. The subjects were randomly divided into a test group (n = 12), who were asked to refrain from using sugar-containing foods between meals and to reduce sugar in main meals for 6 weeks, and a control group (n = 8), who did not receive any dietary advice. Saliva and plaque samples were collected at baseline and at 3, 6 and 12 weeks. The results showed that the levels of S. mutans and S. sobrinus decreased in saliva and plaque during the 6-week sugar restriction period. The decrese in mutans streptococci was more pronounced on buccal than on approximal tooth surfaces. Both species seemed to react in a similar way to the sugar restriction in saliva as well as in dental plaque. At the follow-up examination at 12 weeks, i.e. 6 weeks after completing the sugar restriction period, the numbers of S. mutans and S. sobrinus had increased again, but were still lower when compared to the baseline values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Faculty of Odontology, Göteborg University, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wennerholm
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Birkhed
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Emilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D013395:Sucrose