Quantitative studies on the salivary flora

Abstract

In a quantitative bacteriological study of the salivary flora from 50 children the following aerobic organisms were identified and enumerated: alpha-haemolytic streptococci, beta-haemolytic streptococci, Streptococcus faecalis, pneumococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Staph. albus and Staph. citreus, Neisseria spp, N. meningitidis, corynebacteria, aerobic lactobacilli, B. subtilis, H. influenzae, coliform organisms, and Candida spp. Many of the known potentially pathogenic members were present in large numbers. It is suggested that knowledge of the relative numbers of the organisms that comprise the salivary flora will lead to a greater understanding of the ecology of the mouth and of the pathogenesis of oral infections.