[citation needed] S. sobrinus is also affiliated with early childhood caries, which are responsible for the majority of dental abscesses and toothaches in children.

Children generally acquire S. sobrinus strains from their mother, but the relatively high consumption of sugars by minors facilitates bacterial growth and threatens the onset of early childhood tooth decay.

The glucans provide a shelter for bacterial colonization, and the protected environment creates the perfect nesting ground for S. sobrinus and other microorganisms to sustain a stable community in the form of dental plaque.

[citation needed] In 1995 a paper by Meurman et al. tested Lactobacillus rhamnosus for inhibitory properties, although this relationship was only observed with a weak correlation at a pH below 5.

Lectin from Talisia esculenta and Labramin from Labramia bojeri seeds were found to inhibit the adherence of S. sobrinus to tooth enamel, but had no effect on the growth of the population itself.