Objective: To investigate the buffer capacity of insoluble plaque mass including bacteria and glucans matrix.
Methods: Plaque samples (starved or incubated 1 h with 10% sucrose), Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) mass, and insoluble/soluble glucans were titrated with 1 mmol/L HCl. Meanwhile, the density of bacteria was counted and related to buffer capacity.
Results: The bacteria density had significant effects on acid buffer capacity in dental plaque, but the effect reduced with consuming sugar. S. mutans mass with no sucrose incubating contributed to the buffer capacity of (0.609 +/- 0.202) mmol/L, and S. mutans mass with 2% sucrose had only the buffer capacity of (0.099 +/- 0.047) mmol/L. In the mean time, glucans had no effect on acid buffering (0.028 - 0.032 mmol/L).
Conclusions: The bacteria including S. mutans may be the main contributor to acid buffering in plaque solid.