Aciduric microbiota and mutans streptococci in severe and recurrent severe early childhood caries.

Purpose: Severe early childhood caries (ECC) results from bacterial acid production in an acidic environment. The purpose of this study was to determine Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, and acid-tolerant counts in severe early childhood caries.

Methods: Two- to 6-year-olds with severe-ECC (N=77) or who were caries-free (N=40) were examined.