Influence of time, toothpaste and saliva in the retention of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis on different toothbrushes

Objectives: The intraoral transmission of cariogenic and periodontopathogenic species seems to be facilitated by contaminated toothbrushes and other oral hygiene devices. The aim of this investigation was to analyze the in vitro retention and survival rate of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis on different toothbrushes. The impacts of human saliva and antimicrobial toothpaste on these parameters were further evaluated. Material and Methods: Part I: Four toothbrushes (Colgate 360°, Curaprox CS5460 ultra soft, elmex InterX, Trisa Flexible Head3) were contaminated by S. mutans DSM 20523 or S. sanguinis DSM 20068 suspensions for three minutes. Bacteria were removed from the toothbrushes after either three minutes (T0) or 24 hours (T24) of dry storage and grown on Columbia blood agar plates for the quantification of colony-forming units (CFUs). Part II: The effects of saliva from a caries-active or a caries-inactive person and of toothpaste containing 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate were also tested. Results: Part I: After three minutes of dry storage, approximately one percent of the bacteria were still detectable on the toothbrushes. After 24 hours, S. sanguinis exhibited a more pronounced decrease in viable cell numbers compared with S. mutans but the differences were not significant (Kruskal-Wallis test, p>0.05). Part II: The addition of human saliva from a caries-active or caries-inactive person slightly increased the retention of both streptococcal species at T0. The use of toothpaste had no influence on the amount of viable streptococci at T0, but it reduced the microbial load after 24 hours of storage. There were only slight nonsignificant differences (p>0.05) between the four toothbrushes. Conclusions: In vitro bacterial retention and survival of S. sanguinis and S. mutans on different toothbrushes occurred. Within the limitations of this study, the use of human saliva or an antimicrobial toothpaste ...

In Vitro Effect of photodynamic therapy on Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Streptococcus sanguinis

New periodontal disease treatments are needed to prevent infection progression. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is one of the greatest pledges for this purpose. It involves the use of light of specific wavelength to activate a nontoxic photosensitizing agent in the presence of oxygen for eradication of target cells, and can be used for photokilling of microorganisms. This study evaluated in vitro the photodynamic effect of 0.01 percent toluidine blue-O (TBO) in combination with an AlGaInP diode laser light source on Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.) and Streptococcus sanguinis (S.s.). Suspensions (2 mL) containing A.a. and S.s. at 1.5 x 108 CFU/mL concentration were prepared and divided into 3 groups: Control group (no treatment), Dye group (inoculum and TBO for 5 min) and Dye/Laser group (inoculum, TBO for 5 min and laser for 3 min). Next, a dilution for subsequent subculture in 20 mL of Trypic Soy Agar (A.a) and Brucella Agar (S.s.) in Petri dishes (Pourplate Method) was done. Incubation of A.a. in microaerophilia and S.s. in aerobiosis at 35oC for 48 h was performed for subsequent visual counting of CFU/mL. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test at 5 percent significance level. For both strains, the control group showed a significantly higher (p<0.05) bacterial growth (1.5 x 108 CFU/mL), while the Dye group presented no significant reduction (p>0.05) in the CFU counts. The Dye/Laser group presented a significant decrease in the CFU counts (p<0.05) compared with the Control group (61.53 percent for A.a. and 84.32 percent for S.s.). It may be concluded that PDT was effective in reducing the numbers of A.a. and S.s. in vitro.

Novos tratamentos são propostos para evitar a progressão da periodontite, sendo a terapia fotodinâmica (PDT) uma notória promessa. Sua aplicação associa o Azul de orto-toluidina a 0,01 por cento (TBO) e uma fonte luminosa a laser de diodo (TwinFlex, Mmoptics), liberando assim, toxinas às bactérias. O objetivo do estudo é avaliar in vitro a eficiência da PDT sobre Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.) e Streptococcus sanguinis (S.s.). Preparou-se suspensões distintas de 2 mL contendo A.a. e S.s. na concentração de 1,5x108 UFC/mL, e divisão de cada suspensão em 3 grupos: Controle (sem tratamento); Corante (suspensão e TBO por 5min) e Corante/Laser (suspensão, TBO por 5 min e laser por 3 min). Promoveu-se a diluição, a semeadura em 20 mL de TSA (A.a.) e de Ágar Brucella (S.s.), em placas de Petri (Método Pourplate), e a incubação da A.a. em microaerofilia e da S.s. em aerobiose, por 48 h a 35oC, para posterior contagem visual das UFC. Os grupos Controle mostraram ótimo crescimento bacteriano (1,5 x 108 UFC/mL). Os grupos Corante não apresentaram redução significativa para ambas bactérias. Os grupos Laser apresentaram redução em relação ao controle, 61,53 por cento para A.a. e 84,32 por cento para S.s. A análise estatística (ANOVA, p<0,05) corrobou que a PDT é eficaz na redução destas bactérias in vitro.