Fermentation Ability of Mannitol in Mixed Saliva
Relation to Number of Mutans Streptococci in Saliva and Possibility for Use as Caries Activity Test
1991 Volume 41 Issue 5 Pages 654-666
Details
1991 Volume 41 Issue 5 Pages 654-666
In this study, the fermentation ability of D-mannitol in children's mixed saliva was determined by a simple API 20 Strep® system. The relationship between the salivary fermentation ability of D-mannitol and the number of mutans streptococci in the saliva was elucidated, and the connection between salivary fermentation ability of D-mannitol and dental caries activity was also investigated. According to the increase in number of mutans streptococci in the saliva, the number and percentage of saliva samples which exhibited a positive reaction to D-mannitol significantly increased (p<0.001). When the number of mutans streptococci in the saliva samples was more than 105 CFU/ml, 100% of the saliva samples exhibited a positive reaction to D-mannitol. By using bacteria cell suspensions of reference strains, the number of mutans streptococci, which was >1.5×105 CFU/ml to >5.0×106 CFU/ml, exhibited a positive reaction to D-mannitol. During a 6-month period after the sampling, the dental caries significantly developed in the children with saliva that exhibited a positive reaction to D-mannitol. These results show the possibility of using a salivary fermentation test with the API 20 Strep® system for a caries activity test as reflected by the number of mutans streptococci.
