World Journal of Dentistry

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VOLUME 13 , ISSUE 6 ( November-December, 2022 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Coconut Oil and Low-fluoride Mouthwashes against Streptococcus mutans in Children: A Comparative Clinicomicrobiological Study

Girish Madarahalli Shankarguru, Ranju Manjusha Bhaskaran, Indira Mysore Devraj

Keywords : Antimicrobial activity, Antiplaque activity, Low-fluoride mouthwash, Streptococcus mutans, Virgin coconut oil mouthwash

Citation Information : Shankarguru GM, Bhaskaran RM, Devraj IM. Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Coconut Oil and Low-fluoride Mouthwashes against Streptococcus mutans in Children: A Comparative Clinicomicrobiological Study. World J Dent 2022; 13 (6):562-567.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10015-2115

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 26-08-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2022; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aims: To compare the antimicrobial properties of virgin coconut oil (VCO) mouthwash and a commercially available low-fluoride (0.05%) mouthwash against plaque Streptococcus mutans and to evaluate its efficacy on the supragingival plaque in the pediatric population of age group 6–9 years. Materials and methods: Saponification of VCO was done to obtain the free fatty acids. Minimum inhibition concentration was determined using the broth microdilution method, and VCO mouthwash was formulated. Sixty children were randomly allocated to two groups. VCO (0.02%) mouthwash and commercially available low-fluoride (0.05%) mouthwash were provided. Mouthrinsing was carried out twice daily using 5 mL of mouthwash for 1 minute. Plaque samples were collected at baseline after 30 days of intervention, and microbial analysis was done using mitis salivarius-bacitracin (MSB) agar. Results: Significant reduction in the S. mutans count and plaque scores were obtained in both the mouthwash groups at the end of 30 days. When combined with fluoride toothpaste, low-fluoride (0.05%) group exhibited a higher reduction of S. mutans count. Conclusion: VCO (0.02%) mouthwash can be recommended as a regular mouthwash for children with heavy plaque formation. Clinical significance: Herbal medicines of natural/botanical origin are being applied in clinical dentistry to inhibit microbial activity. Virgin coconut mouthwash which is rich in potassium salts of lauric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid, has been found to be effective against S. mutans in the present study, which would open new vistas in promotion of natural products against oral microorganisms and dental caries in particular.


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