Candida spp. are frequently detected in the mouths of children with extensive caries lesions compared with caries-free subjects. In this study we evaluated the presence of Candida spp. in association with mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in the saliva of children with dental decay, before and after anti-caries treatment. Samples of saliva from 14 children with caries lesions and from 13 car...

OBJECTIVES Probiotic approaches are being considered to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms and are an alternative and promising way to combat infections by using harmless bacteria to displace pathogenic microorganisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of commercially available freeze dried powdered probiotics on mutans streptococci count among 12-15 year-old Indian schoo...

Dental caries is the most common infectious disease affecting humans. The principal causative agents are a group of streptococcal species collectively referred to as the mutans streptococci of which Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are the most important agents of human caries. This review outlines what is currently known about these ubiquitous pathogens and discusses novel metho...

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of Mutans Streptococci (MS) in children and to evaluate the relationship between the salivary levels of MS in children and their parents. MATERIAL AND METHODS 100 children aged 3-6 years along with their parents (100 mothers and fathers each) were included in the study. The children were segregated depending upon their age and level of caries experience....

OBJECTIVES To examine potential correlations between streptococcal biofilm formation and lactate production in streptococcal biofilms formed on the surface of dental materials with different surface characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS Samples of a glass-ionomer cement (Ketac Molar) and a ceramic (Empress 2) were incubated with whole saliva and suspensions of Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the antimicrobial effect of different frequencies of brushing with fluoride toothpaste on the levels of salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in children undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. METHODS The study included 22 patients scheduled for fixed orthodontic therapy distributed between 2 groups with different hygiene regimes. All the subjects received ident...

Dental caries is an infectious and transmissible disease, in which many genetic, environmental and behavioral risk factors interact. The mutans streptococci (MS), mainly Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are the microorganisms most strongly associated with this disease. The main virulence factors associated with MS cariogenicity include adhesion, acidogenicity and acid tolerance. ...

OBJECTIVE Hydroxyapatite (HA) is used as a construction material for artificial supplementation of enamel tooth surfaces to improve oral hygiene. This study examined in vitro HA interactions with mutans streptococci (MS) and bacterial adherence to small (nanosize) crystal form of HA beads having a protean hexagonal structure. The adsorption and physical effects of HA employed in vivo is also de...

Kinetic hydrophobic measurements were performed by confronting 40 mutans streptococci from thirty 10- to 20-year-old patients with 200 ml hexadecane (Sigma). Fourteen patients had high dental caries risk (Group A), dmft + DMFT > 5 with 3 or more active caries, and 16 had low dental caries risk (Group B), dmft + DMFT < 3 without active caries. Twenty bacteria from Group A and 20 bacteria from Gr...

The eucalyptus tree is an excellent source of antimicrobial agents; it used in many oral cure products. bitter taste these agents could compromise their usage. Therefore, fortifying the extracts with non-nutritive sweeteners be a promising procedure for masking unpleasant taste. This study was vitro evaluation activity (alcoholic and aqueous) against salivary Streptococci mutans. It aimed to in...