title: Efficacy of Four Fluoride Mouth Rinses onStreptococcus mutansin High Caries Risk Children - A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dental caries has been traditionally described as a multifactorial disease that involves the interaction of various factors like host, agent, substrate and time. Landmark studies have established the fact that Mutans Streptococci are the primary etiologic agents of dental caries. The prevention of dental caries by fluoride supplements in various vehicles, such as water and toothpaste, constitutes one of the most successful prevention measures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical efficacy of four fluoride mouth rinses onStreptococcus mutansin high caries risk children and also to check the efficacy of the ingredient Triclosan which is present in two of the four mouth rinses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is double blinded, consisting of 1000 children in age group 6-14yrs who were screened from residential schools. Of the total, 200 children were categorized as high caries risk group based on caries risk assessment tool form given by American Association of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) guidelines 2011. Prior to the study, salivary samples were collected and sent for microbial analysis to estimateStreptococcus mutanscounts. Out of 200 salivary samples, 132 showed 106CFU ofStreptococcus mutansand these children were included in the study. The 132 children from each group received the assigned mouth wash for 14 consecutive days. On 15thday the salivary samples were collected and sent for microbial analysis and the obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the mouth washes showed a significant reduction in Colony Forming Units (CFU) counts ofStreptococcus mutans. Among the four groups Group D (S flo) showed greater percentage reduction ofStreptococcus mutansfollowed by Group A (Act), B (Kidodent) and C (Zerocary). There was no stastically significance reduction ofStreptococcus mutansamong the Triclosan containing and non containing groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean pre rinse CFU was significantly higher than post rinse CFU for all the study groups, suggesting that all the four mouth rinses were effective in decreasing the levels ofStreptococcus mutansin the saliva. Both the Triclosan containing and non Triclosan groups showed the same amount of CFU count reduction.
authors: Senior Lecturer, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Narayana Dental College , Nellore, Hyderabad, India .
authors: Shailaja Rao
authors: SR
authors: Perala
authors: Reader, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Panineeya Dental College , Hyderabad, India .
authors: Prameela
authors: P
authors: Bhupathiraju
keywords: Colony forming units; Mouthwashes; Saliva; Tooth decay