Growth, incidence and activities of dissimilatory sulfate-reducing bacteria in the human oral cavity.

Viable counts and activities of sulfate-reducing bacteria were determined in the oral cavities of 12 healthy volunteers. Of these, 10 harboured viable sulfate-reducing bacteria populations. Six separate sites were sampled: the posterior tongue, anterior tongue, mid buccal mucosa, vestibular mucosa, supragingival plaque and subgingival plaque. Sulfate-reducing bacteria occurred in all areas, with the highest incidence in supragingival plaque. Viable counts and sulfate-reducing activities in each of the regions varied from 0 to 10(8) cfu (g wet weight)-1 and from 0 to 50 nmol (g wet weight)-1 h-1, respectively. As sulfate-reducing bacteria can be detected in the oral cavity, they may potentially be involved in terminal oxidative processes carried out by the microflora of the mouth.