Streptococcus mutans seems to be an organism that can be passed on to
a child through saliva.  That is why a mother should not try to "clean"
a pacifier with her own mouth.  Ugh, I've seen it done at the mall.  Nor
should siblings be allowed to play with pacifiers or bottle nipples by
putting them in their own mouths to tease or mimic the baby.

Strep mutans is known to cause cavities in some people who harbor high
numbers.

But it must be a fairly recent organism to gain dominance as it was
previously the norm for mothers to pre-chew or masticate their baby's
food in their own mouths for their young children (before baby food.)
Even doing this there still were not a lot of cavities prior to
processed and sugary foods.

It is thought Strep mutans may be an overgrowth since the advent of
antibiotics.
Judy Ritchie

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