Salivary count of Streptococcus mutans in caries prediction

The purposes of this study were to give the characteristics of Streptococcus mutans isolated from saliva, and the salivary level of S. mutans and its relationships with dental caries. Dental caries is a common infectious disease worldwide. The aetiology of the disease is multifactorial, life habits and streptococcus mutans infection being the most imporatent factors. Paraffin stimulated saliva was taken from 40 subjects of three age groups in sterilized glass tubes. The saliva sample was serially diluted on GSTB agar plates. The plates were incubated anaerobically at 37 °C for 48 hours in candle extinction jars. S. mutans were identified on the basis of morphologic and biochemical characteristics. Viable cell count of S. mutans [CPU I ml] was also done on GSTB agar plates. S. mutans were found in all samples in significant percentage. The results indicated that subjects that had dental caries harboured high level of S. mutans 10[6]> CPU I ml. In age group III, the percentage of subjects with high level of S.mutans and dental caries was found to be higher as compared to age group I and age group II.

effect of commercially available local brand of toothpastes against oral bacteria

The objective of the study was to find the antimicrobial effect of local brands of toothpastes containing different active ingredients, against aerobic and anaerobic oral flora and Streptococcus mutans; the causative agent of dental caries and dental plaque. The efficacy of eight locally formulated dentifrices was checked against aerobic and anaerobic oral bacteria of 30 subjects. Sterilized swabs were applied on the subject's teeth and inhibitory zones against these bacteria were measured by agar diffusion method. The magnitude and duration of Streptococcus mutans percentage reduction was evaluated against 1:100 and 1:1000 w/v dilutions of six dentifrices containing different active ingredients. The Streptococcus mutans were treated with selected dentifrices for 0,5,10,15,30,60 and 120 minutes. The CPU was done using spread plate method. Triclosan containing toothpastes showed maximum inhibitory zones against aerobic and anaerobic oral bacteria followed by fluoridated, whitening and herbal dentifrices. The maximum percentage reduction of S. mutans was shown by triclosan containing toothpastes followed by fluoridated and herbal dentifrices. All dentifrices showed antibacterial activity against aerobic and anaerobic oral bacteria, maximum being that of triclosan containing toothpastes. The longest and largest reduction of S. mutans was shown by triclosan containing dentifrices