Narrative Review on Role ofStreptococcus mutans in Dental Caries and Homoeopathic Intervention.

Abstract

This study is to report on Streptococcus mutans, which is one of the important bacteria that cause dentalcaries. The prevalence of dental caries is very high and varied across India. Dental caries is a major public health problem, an urgent need of oral health educational programs.S. mutans play a central role in plaque formation.Its virulence factor can form a biofilm known as dental plaque on tooth surfaces.S. mutans is a gram-positive coccus;intake of easily fermentable carbohydrates (usually sucrose) stimulates oral bacterial growth. S. mutansPathophysiology of dental decay focused on dynamic pHphenomena that occur between the plague and enamel surface. The review study is based on the review article and preclinical studies; in vitrostudies, in vivo, clinical trialsare documentedthat antibacterial medicines are used as an antibacterial agent against S. mutans. Calcarea phosphoricais one of the frequently prescribed Homoeopathic medicines for dental disease.The use of Homoeopathic intervention is elaboratedin the present review.Databases, such as PubMed, Cochrane, Wiley, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, DOAJ were searchedand relevant articles were used for reviewing purposes. Based on the results, we recognised that further research is needed to prevent and treat dental caries with oral hygiene awareness.