title: The effect of a single application of 40% chlorhexidine varnish on the numbers of salivary mutans streptococci and acidogenicity of dental plaque.
abstract: The relationship between the numbers of salivary mutans streptococci and the acid production in dental plaque after a single application of the 40% chlorhexidine varnish EC40 has been studied. Thirteen healthy subjects were treated with EC40 varnish. Saliva samples were taken before and up to 12 weeks after treatment to count mutans streptococci and lactobacilli. At the same time points plaque samples were taken before and after sucrose challenge and analyzed for protein and organic acid. Suppression of salivary mutans streptococci was observed together with a reduced production of lactic acid in sucrose-challenged dental plaque in 9 subjects while inhibition of acid production without significant suppression of mutans streptococci was observed in the other 4 participants. The duration of the effects differed among the individuals but never exceeded 6 weeks. We conclude that a prolonged suppression of mutans streptococci and acid production was not achieved by a single treatment with EC40 varnish in all subjects. Moreover, reduced acidogenicity of dental plaque after chlorhexidine treatment was not necessarily predicted by suppression of mutans streptococci in saliva.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Endodontology, Pedodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Louwesweg 1, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. v.gerardu@acta.nl
authors.forename: V A M
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Gerardu
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Buijs
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: ten Cate
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Loveren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D002326:Cariogenic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000737:chemistry / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D002326:Cariogenic Agents; C477721:EC40 dental varnish; D019344:Lactic Acid; D013395:Sucrose; D002710:Chlorhexidine