Dental caries is one of the major chronic infectious diseases that continue to affect individuals worldwide in large numbers. The disease is closely related to various microorganisms that form biofilm on the surfaces of teeth, resulting in dental caries due to the metabolism of microorganisms present in dental plaque. Among these microorganisms, Streptococcus mutans is commonly associated with dental caries development, considering its virulence factors that enable it to adhere to tooth surfaces, synthesize exopolysaccharides, and metabolize carbohydrates to produce organic acids. These virulence factors enable S. mutans to dominate other microorganisms in dental plaque, resulting in dental caries through enamel demineralization in an acidic environment. Recent advances in microbiology have indicated that dental caries is a polymicrobial infection that is caused by imbalances in the ecological system of microorganisms in the mouth. Preventive measures that have been effective in controlling dental caries are fluoride therapy, antimicrobial agents, probiotics, and natural bioactive agents. This article focuses on the role of S. mutans in dental plaque biofilm development, its molecular pathogenesis, and recent advances in its prevention and control of dental caries.
Tewari et al. (Tue,) studied this question.