title: [A study on initial colonization of Mutans streptococci on teeth in infants and toddlers].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the initial colonization of Mutans streptococci (MS) on teeth of children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dental plaque was collected from 123 children aged from 7 to 42 months. MS was isolated by culturing on selective medium and identified by biochemical tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MS was detected in 51 of 123 children. The rate of colonization was 41.5%, and the mean age of colonization was 29 month. The incidence of MS infection increased with age and tooth eruption, and reached peak at 25 - 31 months, which was statistically significant. There was a correlation between infection of MS and dental caries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the susceptive period of MS infection is from 25 to 31 months when the second primary molars erupt. MS infection is associated with dental caries.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pediatric Dentistry, Peking University of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Xiang
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li-Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Shu-Guo
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000254:growth & development*; D014078:Tooth Eruption