Enumeration of Selected Salivary Bacterial Groups

¹ Eastman Dental Dispensary, Rochester, New York

Three hundred seventy-two children and adults were sampled bacteriologically, using selective and enriched media.

The total number of organisms for all microbial categories was generally higher in the present study than for comparable investigations. The higher plate counts were attributed to the use of a paraffin-stimulated saliva sample collected on arising, the use of broth as a diluent, and culturing the sample with a minimum of delay.

The total population cultivated aerobically was slightly less than the total population cultivated anaerobically. S. salivarius comprised approximately one-half of the total facultative streptococcal population which, in turn, constituted a major portion of the total flora cultured aerobically.

The numbers of veillonella cultured were approximately one-third of the numbers of the total facultative streptococci. The lactobacilli and candida were found in intermediate and low numbers, respectively, and exhibited a wide range of plate counts. The salt-tolerant staphylococci were consistently present and were found in low numbers.

Adults tended to have higher plate counts than children.