Streptococcus mutans isolated from children with severe-early childhood caries form higher levels of persisters.

•Dental caries is a chronic infectious disease.•Streptococcus mutans produces persisters, variants associated with infection chronicity.•S. mutans from severe caries children had more persisters compared to caries-free patients.•Ability of S. mutans to produce high levels of persisters may contribute to caries control.