Acidogenic cariogenic bacteria

Acidogenic cariogenic bacteria are a functional group of oral microorganisms, primarily including Streptococcus mutans and various Lactobacillus species, that are the principal causative agents of dental caries (Loesche, 1986). These bacteria are characterized by their ability to ferment dietary carbohydrates into organic acids, such as lactic acid, which lowers the local pH in the dental biofilm to below the critical threshold of 5.5 (Marsh, 2003). This acidic environment leads to the demineralization of the tooth's hydroxyapatite structure. Furthermore, these organisms are aciduric, allowing them to survive and continue metabolic activity in low-pH conditions, and they produce extracellular polysaccharides that facilitate the formation of a robust biofilm known as dental plaque (Bowen et al., 2018). Therapeutic strategies targeting these bacteria involve the use of fluoride, which inhibits essential enzymes like enolase, and antiseptics like chlorhexidine that disrupt bacterial membranes (Marquis et al., 2003). Management of these bacteria is crucial for preventing tooth decay and associated systemic complications like infective endocarditis.

Other names

Cariogenic bacteriaAcid-producing oral bacteriaDental plaque bacteriaOdontopathogensCariogenic oral microbiota

Inhibition of bacterial enolase and H+/ATPase enzymes; Disruption of bacterial cell membranes; Competitive inhibition of carbohydrate transport; Inhibition of glucosyltransferase-mediated biofilm synthesis.