Extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), mainly the insoluble ones, increase the cariogenicity of dental biofilm, but whether they interfere with the binding and retention of fluoride is unknown. EPS-rich (EPS+) and EPS-poor (EPS-) pellets of Streptococcus mutans were formed and treated with increasing fluoride concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, or 10 mM). A concentration-dependent fluoride binding was observed in both EPS- and EPS+ pellets, but the presence of EPS did not affect the retention of fluoride in the pellets. In conclusion, the data suggest that a matrix of dental biofilm rich in EPS does not affect fluoride retention in the biofilm.
Keywords: Biofilms; Fluoride; Microbiology; Plaque fluid.
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