Effect of caries preventive measures on Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli in selected mothers.

Mothers of first-born babies were selected on the basis of high salivary counts of Streptococcus mutans. All experimental subjects were given a basic caries preventive program in order to decrease the level of S. mutans in saliva. The program included dietary counseling, which stressed the role of sucrose in the accumulation of S. mutans. The treatment was carried out in a public dental office. The effect of the treatment was assessed by microbiological examination of salivary levels of S. mutans and lactobacilli. A statistically significant reduction in both S. mutans and lactobacilli was found. The basic preventive program was effective in reducing the number of S. mutans below a selected threshold value of 300 000 CFU per ml saliva in 60% of the mothers. In the remaining subjects chlorhexidine treatment was required to suppress the salivary levels of S. mutans below this value.