Salivary Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus sp levels in cardiac children.

This study assesses salivary conditions of 20 children with cardiac disease comparing with a control group of 15 healthy children. The results showed that there was no difference between the groups on salivary flow, buffer capacity and the level of Streptococcus mutans (Sm). The test group i.e., children with cardiac disease, showed a lower level of Lactobacillus sp. The association between the usage of antibiotics and the risk of developing caries, measuring the level of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus sp., showed that children taking antibiotics frequently had a significant lower level of Lactobacillus sp (p<0.05) than healthy children. This association was not found on relation to the levels of Streptococcus mutans.