ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the effect of maltodextrin and sucrose association on the acidogenic and adherence profiles of cariogenic bacteria. DESIGN: Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) were cultivated in culture medium containing maltodextrin, sucrose, maltodextrin-sucrose mixture or glucose. Analyses of the acidogenicity and microbial adherence were conducted in triplicate for each microorganism and tested carbohydrate. RESULTS: For L. casei, maltodextrin, sucrose and maltodextrin-sucrose mixture showed lower acidogenic potential compared to glucose. When the microorganism was S. mutans, sucrose and maltodextrin-sucrose mixture presented higher acidogenic potential compared to maltodextrin and glucose. Microbial adherence analysis revealed higher adherence for S. mutans in presence of sucrose and maltodextrin-sucrose mixture compared to maltodextrin and glucose. For L. casei, all the carbohydrates showed similar adherence percentages. CONCLUSION: The addition of maltodextrin to sucrose does not increase the cariogenicity of sucrose in terms of acidogenicity and adherence of the cariogenic bacteria.
