Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli frequency in orthodontic patients; the effect of chlorhexidine treatments

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Abstract
Patients with malocclusions often have a large number of retention sites for plaque. This study describes the levels of caries-inducing Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli in the saliva of 138 orthodontic patients prior to treatment. It was found that the number of micro-organisms did not differ from that given for a general population of corresponding ages. After insertion of fixed orthodontic appliances, the levels of both species were found to have increased, despite a pre-treatment oral hygiene education and training. Chlorhexidine treatments significantly reduced the number of S. mutans, both prior to and during the orthodontic treatment period. As a rapid recolonization took place in many subjects, the effect of the treatment needs to be monitored by repeated microbiological sampling procedures. No effect on numbers of lactobacilli could be demonstrated.

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