Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the bacterial flora of saliva and dental plaque in artificially fed children

: Stomatological and bacteriological studies were carried out in 66 children aged 1-5 years divided into two groups: I--without caries, II--with carietic lesions typical of the so called "bottle caries", that is with carietic defects on the vestibular surfaces of upper incisors and on masticating surfaces of first molars. No differences of qualitative character were found in the bacterial flora of the saliva and the dental plaques in children with "bottle caries" in relation to those without caries. A significant correlation was noted between the quantity of S. mutans and Lactobacillus in the saliva or dental plaque and the intensity of caries. These results confirm the suggestions of other authors that Str. mutans plays an important role in caries and that it is the prevailing species among acid-producing flora in children with bottle caries.