title: Comparative in vitro evaluation of efficacy of mouthrinses against Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacilli and Candida albicans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was undertaken to compare the relative antimicrobial efficacy of two commercially available mouthrinses, Hexidine (0.12% chlorhexidine mouthrinse) and S-Flo (0.2% sodium fluoride), and a laboratory-manufactured propolis mouthrinse (10%) tincture with a dilution of 1:5 with water and their combinations against Streptococcus mutans, lactobacilli and Candida albicans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unstimulated saliva samples were obtained from the patients using the spitting method and the isolates of Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus and Candida albicans were obtained. The agar diffusion method was used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of these test solutions and their combinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hexidine (0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse) showed the best antimicrobial efficacy against all the tested microorganisms. The laboratory manufactured propolis mouthrinse showed an effective antimicrobial action only against Streptococcus mutans. The antimicrobial efficacy of propolis (P) against Streptococcus mutans was similar to that of chlorhexidine (CHX) and the combination of propolis with chlorhexidine (CHX+P). S-Flo mouthrinse (0.2% sodium fluoride) showed the least efficacy against Streptococcus mutans among all tested solutions, but had better efficacy than propolis against lactobacilli and Candida albicans. The antimicrobial efficacy of the combination of chlorhexidine and fluoride mouthrinse and the combination of chlorhexidine and propolis mouthrinse was less than chlorhexidine mouthwash alone. Among all the tested combinations, the combination of fluoride and propolis showed the least efficacy against all the tested microorganisms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study indicate that 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse (Hexidine) has the best anti-microbial efficacy against all the tested microorganisms, with laboratory-manufactured propolis mouthrinse showing an equivalent efficacy against Streptococcus mutans only. No added advantage of using the tested mouthrinse combinations was observed.
authors: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, India. nmalhotra81@gmail.com
authors: Neeraj
authors: N
authors: Malhotra
authors: Sugandhi P
authors: SP
authors: Rao
authors: Shashirashmi
authors: S
authors: Acharya
authors: Ballal
authors: B
authors: Vasudev
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008422:Materials Testing; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011429:Propolis / Q000494:pharmacology; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009067:Mouthwashes; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D011429:Propolis; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine