Figure 3.

(a) In an S. mutans biofilm, addition of sucrose increased respiration rate by over 100% while fluoride addition reduced aerobic respiration rate by 17%. The aerobic respiration rate is shown in ex vivo interproximal plaque for comparison (hatched bar). (b) Negative H⁺ consumption indicates acid production. The addition of sucrose increased activity by a factor of 170 while the addition of F significantly inhibited acid fermentation. Data for a sterile system are shown as a negative control.