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An important cause of tooth decay by the bacterium Streptococcus mutan

June 1, 2025 by rawan239

An important cause of tooth decay by the bacterium Streptococcus mutans is because of their ability to attach to teeth surface by producing slime layer from

Sugar

Alcohol

Saliva

Teichoic acid

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2023

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Streptococcus mutans metabolizes dietary sugars, particularly sucrose, to produce acids that demineralize tooth enamel (causing decay) and to synthesize extracellular polysaccharides (glucans and fructans). These sticky polysaccharides form a ‘slime layer’ or matrix which allows the bacteria to adhere firmly to the tooth surface and form dental plaque (biofilm).

Streptococcus mutans is a key bacterium in the initiation of dental caries (tooth decay). It produces both acid and a sticky matrix from fermentable carbohydrates, primarily sugars.

While saliva plays a role in buffering acids and clearing food debris, it is not used by the bacteria to produce the sticky layer. Teichoic acid is a component of the bacterial cell wall, contributing to cell shape and adhesion, but the bulk of the slime layer is composed of polysaccharides synthesized from dietary sugars. Alcohol is generally not relevant to this process in the context of dietary intake leading to decay.

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