Streptococcus mutans in plaque after mouth-rinsing with buffers of varying pH value.

After a period of mouthrinsing with a phosphoric buffer solution with low pH the proportional distribution of Streptococcus mutans in plaque from occlusal retention sites was significantly higher than after a control period. This indicates that colonization with S. mutans may be favored or that other microorganisms competing with S. mutans are inhibited under these circumstances.