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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
[A study on initial colonization of Mutans streptococci on teeth in infants and toddlers]
Jun-Xiang Wang1, Li-Hong Ge, Shu-Guo Zheng
1Dept. of Pediatric Dentistry, Peking University of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
Objective:
To investigate the initial colonization of Mutans streptococci (MS) on teeth of children.
Methods:
Dental plaque was collected from 123 children aged from 7 to 42 months. MS was isolated by culturing on selective medium and identified by biochemical tests.
Results:
MS was detected in 51 of 123 children. The rate of colonization was 41.5%, and the mean age of colonization was 29 month. The incidence of MS infection increased with age and tooth eruption, and reached peak at 25 - 31 months, which was statistically significant. There was a correlation between infection of MS and dental caries.
Conclusion:
The results indicate that the susceptive period of MS infection is from 25 to 31 months when the second primary molars erupt. MS infection is associated with dental caries.
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