Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Toothpaste against Biofilm Producing Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Dental and oral hygiene is essential for overall health and well-being. Tooth brush and dental floss help remove food debris and plaque, while tooth paste and mouth wash are a key part of oral hygiene as they reduce bacterial growth. The use of chemical agents in tooth paste formulations are effective but can have undesirable side effects. The use of herbal extracts instead can be equally effective due to the presence of phytochemicals which render antibacterial and antiseptic properties, with no side effects. In this study we have formulated toothpaste using the extracts of orange peel, tomato peel and Eucalyptus leaves. The extracts were positive for phytochemicals like terpenoids, flavonoids and tannins. The formulated tooth paste demonstrated antibacterial and biofilm degrading activity against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from dental plaques. On comparison with commercially available toothpastes, the herbal formulation was observed to be more effective against the biofilm forming Staphylococcus aureus. Rakhi Bajpai3, Chitranshu Pandey4, Varaprasad Kolla*5