title: The in vitro antimicrobial activity of natural infant fluoride-free toothpastes on oral micro-organisms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of six toothpastes for infants: 3 fluoride-free experimental toothpastes--cashew-based, mango-based and without plant extract and fluoride compared with 2 commercially fluoride-free toothpastes and 1 fluoridated toothpastes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six toothpastes for infants were evaluated in this study: (1) experimental cashew-based toothpaste; (2) experimental mango-based toothpaste; (3) experimental toothpaste without plant extract and fluoride (negative control); (4) First Teeth brand toothpaste; (5) Weleda brand toothpaste; and (6) Tandy brand toothpaste (positive control). The antimicrobial activity was recorded against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Candida albicans using the agar plate diffusion test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  First Teeth, Weleda, mango-based toothpaste, and toothpaste without plant extract presented no antimicrobial effect against any of the tested micro-organisms. Cashew toothpaste had antimicrobial activity against S mutans, S sobrinus, and L acidophilus, but it showed no antimicrobial activity against C albicans. There was no statistical difference between the inhibition halo of cashew and Tandy toothpastes against S mutans and L acidophilus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cashew fluoride-free toothpaste had inhibitory activity against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus, and these results were similar to those obtained for fluoridated toothpaste.
authors: Health and Technology Rural Center, Federal University of Campina Grande, Patos, Paraiba, Brazil. fabigalbi@yahoo.com.br
authors: Fabíola G
authors: FG
authors: Carvalho
authors: Thais De Cássia
authors: Tde C
authors: Negrini
authors: Luis Victor S
authors: LV
authors: Sacramento
authors: Josimeri
authors: J
authors: Hebling
authors: Denise M P
authors: DM
authors: Spolidorio
authors: Cristiane
authors: C
authors: Duque
mesh_terms: D031021:Anacardium; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000187:drug effects; D031022:Mangifera; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000187:drug effects; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014100:Toothpastes; D012969:Sodium Fluoride