Oral Streptococci

Abstract

Oral streptococci are the most abundant known species living as biofilms in the mouth. Many of these species are linked to health, while some of them are implicated in pathogenic processes, such as dental caries and as accessories of periodontal pathogens that cause periodontal diseases. Oral streptococci can reach extraoral tissues and participate in other diseases (e.g., infective endocarditis). Thus, this chapter focuses on the tools available for detection, identification, characterization, and spatial localization of known oral streptococci.