Prevalence and localization of Streptococcus mutans in infants and children.

The prevalence and localization of Streptococcus mutans in the oral cavities of 92 children was investigated. The ages of the children ranged from newborns to 5 years. The edentulous newborns and infants with only their deciduous incisors did not harbor S mutans on the mucous membranes or the smooth surfaces of the incisors. As the number of erupted deciduous teeth increased, there was a gradual increase in the isolation of the organism. The greatest isolation frequency of S mutans, 46.3%, occurred in those children with a complete deciduous dentition and contact between the deciduous molars. The interproximal areas where there was molar contact were the most frequent sites of early colonization of S mutans.