Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. casei and L. fermentum could not form plaques alone, but could do so in conjunction with Streptococcus mutans or Strep. sanguis . As the plaques develop the proportions between lactobacilli and streptococci changed so that in a mixed plaque, which contained initially all the organisms, only L. casei, L. fermentum and Strep. mutans were present after 96 h. It was concluded that the level of pH dictated which organisms disappeared and that it was the production of polysaccharide by the streptococci which facilitated plaque formation by the lactobacilli. The term ‘patina’ is suggested, to apply to non‐visible colonization of the tooth surface.
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Russell et al. (1978) studied this question.