Bone Loss and Caries in Rats Infected with Human Streptococci

Gnotobiotic rats infected orally with various human cariogenic Streptococcus mutans strains or a Streptococcus salivarius strain exhibited greater alveolar loss of bone than control rats. The same strains also showed considerable differences in their cariogenic activity. There was a positive correlation between the extent of bone loss and carious surfaces.