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Several factors govern the development of human dental caries.
A significant reduction of dental caries in children and young adults is achieved in many countries following these principles. Today, efforts are directed at detecting these risk subjects. Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli are the main causative bacteria of human dental caries. The initiation of dental caries is preceded by colonisation of the dentition by S. mutans, usually in early childhood. The higher the level of S. mutans in the maternal saliva, the more likely is the colonisation of primary dentition by cariogenic bacteria.