Dental caries induction in hyposalivated rats.

The effects of hyposalivation on the induction of dental caries and on the oral microflora were examined in SPF Sprague-Dawley rats with or without inoculation of oral streptococci. Significant dental caries was induced in hyposalivated rats, irrespective of the infection with oral streptococci including Streptococcus mutans. In addition, bacteriological analyses demonstrated that the total number of lactobacilli increased significantly at the expense of the inoculated streptococci. These findings suggest that opportunistic infections may be induced in the oral cavity of hyposalivated rats and some acidogenic microorganisms including lactobacilli may promote the induction of dental caries.