[The effect of sorbide on the amount of lactobacillus in the saliva]

Saliva specimens from school children in the children's village of Fót were cultured in dentocult medium and the lactobacilli were counted. In addition to their usual food, the children also consumed 20 g of chocolate with either 40% sucrose or sorbitol. The control group was composed of children living in Budapest. High lactobacillus counts were observed less frequently in the sorbitol group than in the other groups. There was a positive correlation between the number of lactobacilli in the saliva and the intensity of caries.