Possible Pathogenic Mechanisms of Oral Streptococci

For any organism to be pathogenic it must be able to fulfil certain criteria: (1) adhere to the host; (2) grow within the host; (3) produce damage to the host locally or systemically and either directly or indirectly; (4) avoid the host's defence mechanisms long enough to cause disease. If any one of these characteristics is lacking, the organism will not be pathogenic.