[The lacto-tampon concept. Determination and prevention of an increased risk for caries]

The lactobacillus count and buffer capacity (final pH) of whole stimulated saliva was assessed and related to the caries increment over the next 12 months in 327 teenagers. The caries increment was 3-4.5 times higher in children having a high lactobacillus count combined with a low buffer capacity, compared with other lacto-buffer combinations (P less than, 01-,001). The protective influence of a high buffer capacity seems to be stronger than the caries-promoting influence of high sugar consumption, indicated by a high lactobacillus count. On the one hand a low sugar consumption seems to have a decisive determining preventive effect even in children having impaired buffer systems. On the other hand a high sugar consumption strongly promotes caries when the buffer capacity is low. It is also demonstrated that consumption changes during a longitudinal study may impair the relationships between the salivary parameters, assessed at baseline, and the caries increment during the study.