Streptococcus mutans in der Kariesätiologie und Bewertung der Bakterienübertragung

Primary tooth decay is the most common noncommunicable chronic disease in young children worldwide. Caries is no longer regarded as a transmissible infectious disease caused by Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), as was believed in recent decades. The identification of increased levels of S. mutans in the dental plaque is still associated with the occurrence of caries. However, the two observations are not causally linked, but are both consequences of increased sugar consumption. This leads to bacterial dysbiosis within the dental biofilm and to demineralisation of tooth surfaces. The rejection of the assumption that S. mutans is causal in the development of caries has consequences for the counselling of parents about caries prevention. The previously often demanded renunciation of sucking on pacifiers or licking the spoon before feeding warm food to the infant with the aim of preventing caries development in the child must therefore be regarded as outdated. The omission of this requirement is confirmed by the fact that children whose parents have had saliva contact with the child by licking the pacifier or spoon have significantly fewer allergies and are diagnosed with asthma less often than other children.