STRAIN DIFFERENCES IN ORAL LACTOBACILLI AND THE RELATION TO DENTAL CARIES

Abstract
148 strains of lactobacilli obtained from the mouths of 95 individuals were studied. The pH attained in glucose broth, the fermentation of mannitol, rhamnose, raffinose, and salicin, and the dehydrogenase activity for glucose were, found to be properties that could be used to classify the various strains into 3 types. The type that was most active metabolically was found to occur in a significantly greater percentage of the salivas from carious individuals, and an even greater percentage.