Antibacterial activity of fluoride compounds and herbal toothpastes on Streptococcus mutans: an in vitro study

Abstract

Background: Streptococcus mutans is an important bacterial species implicated in dental caries. This laboratory study compared the antimicrobial activity of a number of fluoride containing and herbal dentifrices and their components against S. mutans. Methods: An agar diffusion method was used with Mueller-Hinton agar. Wells were filled with either 10 commercial fluoride or 6 herbal dentifrices, or with solutions of various fluoride compounds, sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium benzoate, chlorhexidine digluconate or triclosan. Diameters of zones of bacterial growth inhibition surrounding the wells were measured using a micrometer. Results: Significant differences were found for growth inhibition between the 10 fluoridated dentifrices (p < 0.0001), with Colgate Total having the greatest effect. There was not a direct correlation with fluoride type or fluoride concentration. The antibacterial activities of the 6 herbal toothpastes varied, with Herbal Fresh being the strongest. Sodium lauryl sulphate showed strong antimicrobial activity against S. mutans at the levels used in dentifrices. Conclusions: Antimicrobial activity of commercial dentifrices against S. mutans may be exerted by components other than fluoride. Ingredients such as triclosan and sodium lauryl sulphate have larger antimicrobial effects than fluorides in this model.

Antibacterial Activities of Herbal Toothpastes Combined with Essential Oils against Streptococcus mutans

“…Cinnamomum cassia (known as Chinese cinnamon) [68] was purchased from local market and used in this study. There have been studies on the antibacterial activity of cinnamon [29,65,69]. Furthermore, there havealso been studies related tothe strongantibacterial properties of cinnamaldehyde [70,71].…”

“…There are some studies in the literature comparing fluoride-containing toothpastes and herbal toothpastes [29,30]. Due to their antimicrobial effects, essential oils may be used to prevent dental caries.…”

Combinatorial Effects of Aromatic 1,3-Disubstituted Ureas and Fluoride on In vitro Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Formation

“…Fluoride has been used long as an effective anti-caries agent in various commercial formulations and is the mainstay for caries prevention (Zheng et al, 2015 ). It exerts major effects by reducing enamel demineralization and enhancing remineralization of early caries lesions (Randall et al, 2014 ). However, fluoride does not provide complete protection in its currently used preparations and moreover, emergence of fluoride resistant S. mutans has also doubted the prolonged use of fluoride (Mitsuhata et al, 2014 ).…”

Commercial antimicrobials mouthrinses on caries and periodontitis-related biofilm control: a review of literature

“…Some in vitro studies have shown that fluoride reduces the production of lactate and the biomass of S. mutans biofilm when applied in high concentrations [31,32], however, other studies have shown no differences in lactate production, CFU number and pH drop by the application of fluoride compared to control in S. mutans biofilm [33,34]. The antimicrobial effect of fluoride is still not a consensus.…”