Why is sucrose so cariogenic? The role of glucosyltransferase and polysaccharides

Some aspects of the cariogenicity of sucrose are discussed, in particular the data indicating that glucosyltransferase (GTF) mediates the well known stickiness of sucrose exposed S. mutans and plaque in vivo. The non-sucrose dependent colonization of teeth, which has been studied extensively, is judged to be of less importance because S. mutans is only pathogenic in combination with sucrose. Strong evidence from several laboratories show that free GTF is present in saliva and that it adsorbs to the pellicle and is able to form glucan in the adsorbed state. Glucan-glucan interaction between 1-3 linked glucans gives a strong sucrose dependent interaction between glucan chains originating from the GTF adsorbed to the pellicle and from GTF on the bacterial surface.