A 3-year-old has rapidly progressing caries on the maxillary primary incisors and a history of frequent sugary bottle feeds. Which organism is most strongly associated with initiating these lesions?

Explanations

• Mutans streptococci are acidogenic, aciduric and produce extracellular glucans from sucrose, and are the organisms most associated with the onset of enamel caries. Lactobacilli are linked mainly to progression of established, cavitated lesions.

  Source: Fejerskov, Nyvad and Kidd, Dental Caries: The Disease and its Clinical Management — oneguy