Figures

A. B.

C.

Figure 1. A, B and C. The teeth of infected mice by S. mutans. The enamel turned into yellow colour accompanied by the presence of black dots (arrows).

A. B. Figure 2. A and B. Normal mice, with white colour of teeth, clear without the

presence of yellow or brown area, or black dots.

The cause of caries is bacterial break down of the hard tissues of the teeth (enamel, dentin and cementum). Enamel is a highly mineralized acellular tissue, and caries act upon it through a chemical process brought on by the acidic environment produced by bacteria. As the bacteria consume the sugar and use it for their own energy, they produce lactic acid. The effects of this process include the demineralization of crystals in the enamel, caused by acids, over time until the bacteria physically penetrate the dentin. The acid produced leads to a loss of calcium and phosphate from the enamel; this process is called demineralisation. Demineralization is a early lesion on the dental enamel and characterized by white spots lesion the formation of microcavity (smooth surface caries) [1, 2, 4].

The caries process was initiated by demineralised (softened) enamel of teeth surface, in the fissures (grooves) of teeth or in between the teeth. It may progress, then creates holes in the tooth (cavities) and looks as a number of different colours from yellow to black dots. These kinds of lesions are strongly associated with heavy infection by S. mutans on tooth surfaces. Studies have reported, that 60% of the microbial population of dental plaque may be composed by S. mutans [2].

Streptococcus mutans has ability to produce biofilms to attach on the surface of the tooth enamel and have the ability to ferment carbohydrates. It is well known that frequency of eating a fermentable substrate is important in the carious process. The cariogenic potential S. mutans is supported with a diet containing 5% sucrose. Mundorff et al. (1990)10, reported that among carbohydrates, sucrose is one of the highest potential cariogenic foods.