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Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in the elderly
Author(s) -
Närhi Timo O.,
Ainamo Anja,
Meurman Jukka H.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0722.1994.tb01162.x
Subject(s) - dentures , medicine , dentistry , streptococcus mutans , dentition , population , lactobacillus , biology , food science , bacteria , genetics , environmental health , fermentation
The prevalence of salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli, salivary flow rate, and the type of dentition were studied in connection with a medical survey of 76‐, 81‐, and 86‐yr‐old inhabitants of Helsinki living at home. High bacterial counts were associated with low salivary flow rates. High counts of mutans streptococci (>10 6 CFU/ml) were found in 68% of wearers of full dentures, as compared with 53% of subjects having natural teeth. High counts of lactobacilli (>10 6 CFU/ml) were found in 44%) of subjects having removable partial dentures and in 39% of subjects having natural teeth. The bacterial counts correlated neither with medicines taken daily nor with diseases among this population.