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Stimulated-saliva, swabbing-plaque and brushing-plaque samples were successivelycollectedfrom five volunteers four times over a seven-day period and the number of total streptococci (TS) and mutans streptococci (MS) in each sample were determined using selective media. The percentages of MS in TS (MS%) of the brushing-plaque and the stimulated saliva, but not the swabbingplaque, were kept almost constant through a sampling period, and the ratio of mean MS% in both samples significantlyvaried among subjects.These findings suggestthat plaquesamplerecoveredby brushingtreatmentfor 1min is superior to stimulated whole saliva as a sampling material for assessment of individual caries risk.