The prevalence of salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli,
salivary flow rate, and the type of dentition were studied in connection
with a medical survey of 76-, 81-, and 86-yr-old inhabitants of
Helsinki living at home. High bacterial counts were associated with low
salivary flow rates. High counts of mutans streptococci (> 10(6)
CFU/ml) were found in 68% of wearers of full dentures, as compared with
53% of subjects having natural teeth. High counts of lactobacilli (<
10(6) CFU/ml) were found in 44% of subjects having removable partial
dentures and in 39% of subjects having natural teeth. The bacterial
counts correlated neither with medicines taken daily nor with diseases
among this population.