title: Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis colonization correlated with caries experience in children.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the colonization of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis in the oral cavity and the association with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC). Saliva and plaque samples were collected from 14 S-ECC children and 8 caries-free (CF) children. All S-ECC children were S. mutans positive; 100% of CF children and 93% of S-ECC children were S. sanguinis positive. The children's caries severity was positively correlated with levels of S. mutans (p < 0.001), total oral streptococci (p < 0.01), total cultivable oral bacteria (p < 0.05), and children's age (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the interaction of S. sanguinis with S. mutans was a significant factor associated with the caries status in children, suggesting that the relative levels of these two microorganisms in the oral cavity play an important role in caries development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY 10010-4086, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Caufield
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Fisch
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000502:physiology*; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000502:physiology