In vitro antimicrobial effects of two antihalitosis mouth rinses on oral pathogens and human tongue microbiota.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to compare the antimicrobial activity of a mouth rinse containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride (MR1) with a stannous fluoride-based mouth rinse (MR2) in vitro.


METHODS
Samples of the tongues from 10 subjects with and 10 subjects without halitosis were inoculated on blood agar plates. The agar was perforated, and the cylindrical holes were filled either with mouth rinse MR1 or with mouth rinse MR2. After incubation, inhibition zones of the whole tongue microbiota and Fusobacterium nucleatum were measured. In addition, MR1 and MR2 were applied in a short interval killing test (SIKT) on four oral pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, F. nucleatum and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Total viable cell counts were made after two minutes of incubation with increasing concentrations of MR1 and MR2.


RESULTS
MR1 showed a significantly higher in vitro antimicrobial activity against the whole tongue microbiota and F. nucleatum than MR2 in both groups of subjects. In the SIK test, MR1 showed a significantly greater killing capacity than MR2. The results show that a mouth rinse with low concentrations of chlorhexidine and 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride appears to be more effective in inhibiting growth of the human tongue microbiota in vitro than a fluoride/stannous fluoride-containing mouth rinse.


CONCLUSIONS
This in vitro observation supports the use of chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride in the treatment of oral halitosis.
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
G C
GC
Raangs
E G
EG
Winkel
A J
AJ
van Winkelhoff
D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002594:Cetylpyridinium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006209:Halitosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014002:Tin Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014059:Tongue / Q000382:microbiology*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D009067:Mouthwashes; D014002:Tin Fluorides; D002594:Cetylpyridinium; D002710:Chlorhexidine
bacteria; halitosis; in vitro; mouth rinses