Inhibitory effects of children's toothpastes on Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis and Lactobacillus acidophilus.
OBJECTIVE
As suppression of Streptococcus mutans in young children may prevent or delay colonisation of the oral cavity, toothbrushing with dentifrices containing anti-S. mutans activity may aid in preventing caries. The aims of this study were to compare the effects of children's dentifrices on the growth of S. mutans and non-mutans bacteria (Streptococcus sanguinis and Lactobacillus acidophilus).


METHODS
The agar diffusion assay at neutral pH was used to examine the antibacterial activity of commercial dentifrices and their major constituents.


RESULTS
Dentifrices containing 1,450 ppm fluoride produced greater growth inhibition of both S. mutans and S. sanguinis than those with <500 ppm. No inhibition was seen for pure solutions of sodium fluoride or sodium monofluorophosphate at fluoride concentrations up to 100,000 ppm. Stannous fluoride exerted antibacterial effects at concentrations above 10,000 ppm. Significant growth inhibition of both S. mutans and S. sanguinis was seen with sodium lauryl sulphate at 2,500 ppm and with triclosan at 100 ppm. No inhibitory effects were seen for xylitol, sorbitol, sodium pyrophosphate or polyethylene glycol at concentrations up to 80,000 ppm.


CONCLUSIONS
Sodium lauryl sulphate is the major bacterial inhibitory compound in children's dentifrices.
School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, 200 Turbot Street, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.
A
A
Evans
S J
SJ
Leishman
L J
LJ
Walsh
W K
WK
Seow
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011756:Diphosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D005459:Fluorides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000187:drug effects*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014002:Tin Fluorides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014260:Triclosan / Q000494:pharmacology; D014993:Xylitol / Q000494:pharmacology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D003802:Dentifrices; D011756:Diphosphates; D010710:Phosphates; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D014002:Tin Fluorides; D014100:Toothpastes; C012980:fluorophosphate; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014260:Triclosan; D013012:Sorbitol; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; C003319:sodium pyrophosphate; D005459:Fluorides; D014993:Xylitol