Objective: The use of sweeteners at the population level is through commercial presentations with additives; the active ingredient is not solely and directly consumed. Commercial sweeteners could be detrimental to dental health. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two commercial sweeteners, one based on steviol glycosides and the other on sucralose, on the growth and biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus.
Methods: An experimental study was carried out with 420 bacterial inocula of S. mutans and L. acidophilus, standardized according to the McFarland scale (0.05). The inocula were subsequently supplemented with commercial sweetener solutions to evaluate bacterial growth, biofilm formation, and pH. Twelve study groups (n = 35) were obtained; four sucrose control groups, four sucralose-based commercial sweetener groups, and four steviol glycoside-based commercial sweetener groups. They were, in turn, evaluated by incubation time (1 hour or 24 hours). Bacterial growth and biofilm formation were measured spectrophotometrically; pH was evaluated with a digital potentiometer.
Results: Statistically significant differences in bacterial growth and biofilm formation were found. The steviol glycoside-based sweetener promoted higher bacterial growth (P ≤ .01). The sucralose-based sweetener promoted higher biofilm formation (P ≤ .01). The evaluated sweeteners generated a critical pH (< 5.5).
Conclusion: The evaluated sweeteners not only present the active principle they promote but use a mixture of different sweeteners and additives whose impact on the growth of acidogenic bacteria may not be beneficial in preventing caries.
Cite this article as: Munguía-Felix DG, Manzanares-Leal GL, Montiel-Bastida NM. Growth of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus in the presence of commercial sweeteners. Essent Dent. 1(1):17-22.