EFFECT OF SUCROSE CONSUMPTION ON LEVEL OF STREPTOCOCCUS-MUTANS IN SALIVA

The aim of the present paper was to study whether sucrose consumption may affect the level of salivary Streptococcus mutans. The study was j ustified by the disagreement between results of ''in vitro'', animal a nd human experiments and results of epidemiological studies made on st udy-populations. According to experimental research, sucrose availabil ity promotes Streptococcus mutans selection and development in the ora l cavity. On the other hand, the results of epidemiological studies ru n counter to these experiments. In the present study, the main reasons for this disagreement were investigated and identified. From this, an epidemiological study was performed, taking into account these potent ially confounding factors. The results show that sucrose consumption i s actually able to promote Streptococcus mutans selection and developm ent in the oral cavity, thus increasing the risk of dental caries.