Strategies for Streptococcus mutans biofilm dispersal through extracellular polymeric substances disruption

Dental caries is one of the most prevalent and costly biofilm-dependent oral infectious diseases affecting most of the world's population. Streptococcus mutans, a major extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) producing bacteria in dental plaque, plays a vital role in human dental caries. EPS acts as the framework of dental plaque and promotes bacterial adhesion, cohesion, and environmental stress resistance and hinders the diffusion of nutrients and metabolic products. Since EPS is critical for biofilm lifestyle and virulence of cariogenic bacteria, EPS disruption could be a potential strategy to prevent caries. This review sought to summarize potential strategies to inhibit S. mutans biofilms through EPS disruption. The signal network intervention has a positive effect on S. mutans biofilm disruption, which could be achieved by using cyclic dimeric G/AMP inhibitors, quorum sensing inhibitors, and diffusible signal factors. Besides the enzyme degradation of exopolysaccharides, extracellular DNA, and proteins, other novel strategies, such as nanoparticles and phage therapy, could also promote EPS matrix disruption.