Antibodies to indigenous and laboratory strains of Streptococcus mutans in saliva from children with dental caries and from caries-free children.

Whole, unstimulated saliva and dental plaque were collected from 63 children ages 6-13 years, 29 with dental caries and 34 without. If a child was infected with Streptococcus mutans, it was isolated from dental plaque and characterized. Saliva was tested for IgM, IgG, and IgA that would bind indigenous S. mutans, if present, and for antibodies that would bind 6 laboratory strains of S. mutans, each representing distinct antigen types. The results show that there were no significant differences in antibody levels for any type of S. mutans between children of different caries experience. The data do not support a protective role for salivary antibodies to