What component forms the adhesive matrix that allows Streptococcus mutans to form dental plaque on teeth?

• A. Dextran mesh
• B. Lactic acid
• C. Enamel
• D. Oxygen

Answer: (A)

Dental plaque formation relies on a sticky extracellular matrix that acts as the glue holding the community to the tooth. Streptococcus mutans makes this adhesive scaffold in the form of dextran, a glucan polymer produced by glucosyltransferase enzymes when sucrose is available. The dextran mesh coats the tooth surface and traps bacteria together, creating a biofilm that can grow and resist removal. This matrix is the key to adherence, whereas lactic acid is a metabolic byproduct that contributes to decay, enamel is simply the surface the plaque clings to, and oxygen isn’t what forms the adhesive network. So the dextran mesh is the component that enables dental plaque to stick to teeth.