Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
Oral Bifidobacteria: caries-associated bacteria in older adults
D Beighton1, M Al-Haboubi, M Mantzourani
1Dental Institute, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London Bridge, London, UK. david.beighton@kcl.ac.uk
Abstract:
Bifidobacteria are aciduric bacteria that might play a role in the caries process. To test the hypothesis that Bifidobacteria behave as caries-associated organisms, as predicted by the ecological plaque hypothesis, we determined salivary levels of Bifidobacteria and caries-associated organisms for 156 older adults. Salivary levels of Bifidobacteria, mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, and yeasts were correlated with each other (p < 0.001), negatively correlated with salivary flow rate (p < 0.001), and positively correlated with plaque index (p < 0.05). Salivary Bifidobacteria levels were positively associated with the number of filled (p < 0.001) and decayed (p = 0.036) tooth surfaces and negatively associated with number of teeth (p < 0.001) and salivary flow rate (p = 0.049). In regression analyses, caries experience was significantly associated with only salivary Bifidobacteria (p < 0.001) and yeast (p < 0.001) levels and the individual's age (p = 0.021). Bifidobacteria should be regarded as caries-associated organisms whose role in the caries process and as markers of caries risk requires further investigation.
Related Concept Videos
The Oral Microbiota
Development of the Oral Microbiota
Development of Human Microbiota
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria
