title: In-vitro evaluation and comparison of the anti-microbial potency of commercially available oral hygiene products against Streptococcus mutans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dental caries is the destruction of enamel, dentin, or cementum of teeth due to bacterial activities, which if left untreated can cause considerable pain, discomfort, and treatment costs are very high. Of the oral bacteria, Streptococcus mutans is considered to be causative agent of dental caries in humans.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims at screening the antibacterial potential of available oral hygiene products against S. mutans, the primary etiological agent.
  
  
  METHODS
  A selective number of toothpaste and mouth rinse available in the nearby local market was subjected to the study. The experiments were designed in a way to determine which one of these products had the greatest anti-S.mutans activity. Antibiotic sensitivity tests against the pathogenic strains were also conducted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pathogenic strains of S.mutans were isolated from clinical dental specimen and identified using MTCC standard strain No. 890. Of the 86.66% samples which showed positive for S.mutans growth, almost 96% conferred sensitivity to 0.08 mg/ml of penicillin. Among the toothpastes used, A showed the maximum inhibitory activity against S.mutans inhibiting its growth even at a very low concentration of 0.0156 g/ml. Similar results were seen in the case of the mouth rinses used for the study, which showed that N had the most effective activity against S.mutans even at 1:8 dilution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The oral hygiene products containing triclosan proved to be the most effective followed by those containing fluoride. Herbal products showed comparatively lesser activity in inhibiting the growth of S. mutans. Even though there are so many products available to curb the progression of dental caries in the population targeted, there is still an undoubted prevalence and incidence of caries among the general public. The need for a better alternative to help control dental caries is on the rise even today.
authors: Department of Microbiology, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, India. sentilarajan@yahoo.in
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Sentila
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gandhimathi
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Karthika
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Suryalakshmi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Michael
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local