Oral Bifidobacteria: caries-associated bacteria in older adults.
Bifidobacteria are aciduric bacteria that might play a role in the caries process. To test the hypothesis that Bifidobacteria behave as caries-associated organisms, as predicted by the ecological plaque hypothesis, we determined salivary levels of Bifidobacteria and caries-associated organisms for 156 older adults. Salivary levels of Bifidobacteria, mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, and yeasts were correlated with each other (p < 0.001), negatively correlated with salivary flow rate (p < 0.001), and positively correlated with plaque index (p < 0.05). Salivary Bifidobacteria levels were positively associated with the number of filled (p < 0.001) and decayed (p = 0.036) tooth surfaces and negatively associated with number of teeth (p < 0.001) and salivary flow rate (p = 0.049). In regression analyses, caries experience was significantly associated with only salivary Bifidobacteria (p < 0.001) and yeast (p < 0.001) levels and the individual's age (p = 0.021). Bifidobacteria should be regarded as caries-associated organisms whose role in the caries process and as markers of caries risk requires further investigation.
Beighton
D
D
Dental Institute, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London Bridge, London, UK. david.beighton@kcl.ac.uk
Al-Haboubi
M
M
Mantzourani
M
M
Gilbert
S C
SC
Clark
D
D
Zoitopoulos
L
L
Gallagher
J E
JE
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016712:Mupirocin; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D003470:Culture Media; D016712:Mupirocin