The aim of this study was to analyze the content of free sugars (glucose, fructose, galactose, sucrose, maltose, lactose) in 30 foods and investigated the correlation with the viability of Streptococcus mutans. 30 test samples were prepared by the modified version of official methods of analysis of American Association of Cereal Chemist and contents of free sugar were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. 10 ml of the test sample solution was added to 1 ml of artificial saliva after inoculation of 1% S. mutans and it was incubated at 37°C for 5 hours. Correlation between total viable cells of S. mutans and the distribution of free sugars were analyzed by Fisher transformation test. Sucrose and lactose showed positive and negative correlation between total viable cells of S. mutans and content of free sugars (p < 0.001). Maltose and glucose showed a positive correlation. Fructose and galactose showed no correlation. The results indicate that regarding micro-viability, the cariogenic potential of free sugar may differ from the composition of foods and the presence of other free sugars. This study may have to investigate the cariogenic potential of free sugars and also can be implemented to public health intervention.

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