Abstract
Caries-inducing activity of TG syrup was examined in vitro and in animal experiments. The syrup contains mono- and oligosaccarides, with isomaltose and panose as its principal constituents. TG syrup can be utilized as the substrate for acid production by Streptococcus mutans MT8148R (serotype c) and 6715(g). Growing cells of S. mutans produced a marked adherence to a glass surface in 1% sucrose, while minimum adherence was recognized in 1% TG syrup. The adherence gradually decreased as the amount of TG syrup in the reaction mixture increased. The amount of insoluble glucan produced from sucrose by crude GTase of S. mutans decreased markedly when increasing amounts of TG syrup were added to the reaction mixture containing 1% sucrose. TG syrup developed weak caries in SPF rats infected with S. mutans MT8148R or 6715, whereas sucrose induced notable dental caries.
These results indicate the low cariogenicity of TG syrup and the possibility of being utilized as a sucrose substitute.
