Streptococcus Mutans and Dental Caries Dynamics

Streptococcus mutans is widely recognised as a principal etiological agent of dental caries, a dynamic, multifactorial disease characterised by demineralisation of tooth enamel and dentine. This bacterium thrives in the complex biofilm environment of the dental plaque, where it metabolises dietary carbohydrates—particularly sucrose—into organic acids. The resulting drop in pH leads to mineral loss from the tooth surface. S. mutans possesses numerous virulence factors, among them glucosyltransferase enzymes that synthesise extracellular polysaccharides, enhancing adhesion and stabilising the biofilm matrix. Its aciduric nature allows survival under low pH conditions, perpetuating cycles of demineralisation and microbial succession. Host factors such as saliva flow, immune response and tooth morphology, together with behavioural and dietary patterns, modulate the progression of carious lesions. Contemporary research has expanded to encompass the ecology of the plaque community, the genetics of stress tolerance in S. mutans and novel antimicrobial strategies, reflecting a shift towards integrative prevention and targeted therapeutic intervention on a global scale.

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Streptococcus Mutans and Dental Caries Dynamics publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in streptococcus mutans and dental caries dynamics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Biofilm: A structured microbial community embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix, adhered to a surface.

Demineralisation: The process by which mineral ions (such as calcium and phosphate) are lost from tooth enamel and dentine due to acid exposure.

Glucosyltransferase: An enzyme produced by S. mutans that synthesises extracellular glucans from sucrose, facilitating bacterial adhesion and biofilm stability.

Aciduric: The ability of an organism to survive and metabolise at low pH values.

References

1. Effects of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma on Streptococcus mutans isolated from Dental Caries. Journal of Physics Conference Series (2024).
2. The Clinical Pattern and Prevalence of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus among Adult and Children Patients with Dental Caries. Pesquisa Brasileira em Odontopediatria e Clínica Integrada (2022).
3. Sucrose and Xylitol-Induced Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Adherence. Pesquisa Brasileira em Odontopediatria e Clínica Integrada (2020).