Sowjanya R

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of three commercially available toothpastes which are non-fluoridated, fluoridated and the one containing prebiotic ingredient on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus plantarum. Materials and Mathods: Antimicrobial activities of prebiotic, fluoridated, non-fluoridated toothpastes were assessed at different concentrations (100ug, 200ug, 300ug and 400ug). Since prebiotic toothpaste had other proven antimicrobial agents, 100% inulin extract from chicory (prebiotic) was assessed for its antimicrobial efficacy at varying concentrations. Antimicrobial property was evaluated by determining the zone of inhibition using agar well diffusion method on Luria Bertani (LB) broth media for and MRS broth media forL.plantarum. 100ul of inoculums of S.mutans and L.plantarum was poured on to the agar plates respectively. Five wells measuring 0.5cm was made, dentifrice at varying concentration i.e; 100ug, 200ug, 300ug and 400ug was loaded into respective wells. 50ul of DMSO was loaded in the well at the centre as control and incubated at 37°C for 24hrs. Results:  All the three tested toothpastes had significant antimicrobial activity against S.mutans and L.plantarum. The highest antimicrobial activity was exhibited by toothpaste containing prebiotic ingredient with mean zone of inhibition of (18.5+/-0.5) and (20.0+/-1) at 400ug against S.mutans and L.plantarum. There was no significant difference in antimicrobial activity of fluoridated and non-fluoridated toothpastes against S.mutans at 400ug (P=1), but there was a significant difference for L.plantarum at 400ug (P Conclusion:  All the three tested toothpaste were effective against S.mutans and L.plantarum at varying concentrations, but toothpaste containing prebiotic ingredient was most effective in inhibition of both the micro-organisms.   Keywords: Dental caries, Inulin, L plantarum, Prebiotic and Smutans

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Abstract

Background: Streptococcus mutans has been long associated with initiation of dental caries. Nevertheless, dental caries is also seen in its absence, indicating the role of another micro-organism. To evaluate and compare the presence of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Scardovia wiggsiae (S. wiggsiae) in children from predentate to permanent dentition period using polymerase chain reaction. Materials and Methods: 80 children aged between 0 to 14 yrs., were divided into 8 groups of 10 each. Unstimulated salivary samples were collected from children of predentate to permanent dentition period with and without dental caries, which served as experimental and control groups respectively. The samples were compared and evaluated for S. wiggsiae & S. mutans. 2ml of unstimulated saliva samples were collected in a sterile 50ml graduated container & swab method was used to collect saliva from infants below 6-months of age & swabs were placed in MTM medium & stored at 20° C followed by DNA extraction procedure. Results: The present study showed that both S. mutans and S. wiggsiae were present in the predentate period & gradually increased upto mixed dentition period. However, both the organisms decreased in permanent dentition group. In primary, mixed & permanent dentition control groups, S. mutans counts was significantly greater than S. wiggsiae, whereas in the experimental group S. wiggsiae was significantly higher than S. mutans. Conclusion: S. mutans could be the commensal and S. wiggsiae could be the major etiological organism in progression of dental caries. Keywords: Dental caries, Dentitions, PCR, S. mutans, S. wiggsiae.

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