Saliva Test May Predict Risk for Cavities

There are many different kinds of sugars in human saliva. Some are used by Streptococcus mutans to cause cavities. Many salivary sugars can be found in chains, some short (oligosaccharides), some long (polysaccharides). Paul Denny and his colleagues at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles have determined that some bad oligosaccharides Streptococcus mutans uses to bind to the surface of the tooth. While other good oligosaccharides prevent Streptococcus mutans from binding to the tooth. These researchers theorized that if they could test children's saliva for the amount of bad oligosaccharides they had in their mouth they might be able to predict which children might have more problems with cavities.

In their initial studies they selected 29 children and tested their saliva for bad oligosaccharides and found that those with high levels of bad oligosaccharides had more cavities than those with lower levels of bad oligosaccharide in their saliva. Their test was able to predict with around 98% accuracy who would have more problems with cavities.

The test is not currently available for use by the general public but in time they hope such a test would be available. Who knows maybe someday even before the first baby tooth has come in these young ones could be asked to spit in a tube to test for their cavity potential. Those with high cavity potential would be earnestly encouraged to avoid sugar-containing sweets and to brush and floss religiously. Those with low cavity potential should also be encouraged to not eat a lot of sweets and to brush and floss regularly. However, if they missed a brushing or two per month they would not be as worried about the potential for cavity formation.

If only they would have had such a test when I was a kid. Not only would it have given me another reason to spit but it could have helped me realize I needed to religiously brush my teeth and say no to that second dip of ice cream. On second thought maybe not. I never wanted my younger brother to do anything better than I did. He probably would have passed the saliva test and I on the other hand would have had to do more homework to make up for my poor saliva test score.

For more information on this potential test click on the following links:

http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/dental/article_403.shtml

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/101/106024.htm?z=1728_00000_1000_tn_11

Take Care and Think Microbiologically! For more microbiology articles to Suite101:Microbiology.

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