EFFECT OF VARIOUS HERBAL TOOTHPASTES IN REDUCING THE STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANTS COUNT

Aim & Objective: To investigate the effect of various herbal toothpaste in reducing the count of streptococcus mutants. Background: Streptococcus mutans is a facultatively anaerobic, gram commonly found in the human oral cavity and is a significant contributor to tooth decay. Early colonizers of the tooth surface are mainly Neisseria spp. and streptococci, including S. mutans. The growth and metabolism of these pioneer species changes local environmental conditions. Thereby enabling more fastidious organisms to further colonize after them, forming dental plaque. The combination of plaque and acid leads to dental decay. Practice of good oral hygiene including daily brushing, flossing and the use of appropriate mouthwash can significantly reduce the number of oral bacteria, including S. mutans and inhibit their proliferation. The objective of this study is to investigate t of various herbal toothpaste in reducing the count of streptococcus mutants by invitro method. Materials and method: Five different commercially available herbal toothpastes were chosen as the samples. Culture was carried out using agar well di cultures of streptococcus mutants were obtained which was isolated using Mutans Sanguis agar.The zones of incubation were measured in mm diameter after the period of 24 hrs. Result: Sample A with miswak extract has shown the highest zone of incubation measuring diameter of 39mm. Hence it is clear that, miswak extract in the toothpaste has a greater effect in reducing the mutants counts. It has the greater effect than the chlorexdine control.


INTRODUCTION
Over 400 species of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria colonise our oral cavity. Anaerobic bacteria outnumber their aerobic counterparts by a ratio of 10:1 to 100:1. These organisms inhabit the teeth, the gingival crevice, the mucous membranes, the dorsum of the tongue and saliva the oral cavity is sterile but rapidly becomes colonized from the environment, particularly from the mother in the first feeding [2]. Dental caries is a disease, in w fermentation of dietary carbohydrates forms lactic and other acids that leads to localized demineralization and destruction of the teeth. A cariogenic biofilm at a single tooth site may contain one-half-billion bacteria, of which species of mutansstreptococci are critical components. The characteristics contributing their cariogenicity are; ability to transport sugar, produces acid, tolerates acid's and produce Background: Streptococcus mutans is a facultatively anaerobic, gram commonly found in the human oral cavity and is a significant contributor to tooth decay. Early colonizers of the tooth surface are mainly Neisseria spp. and streptococci, including S. mutans. The growth and metabolism of these pioneer species changes local environmental conditions. Thereby enabling more fastidious organisms to further colonize after them, forming dental plaque. The combination of plaque and acid leads to dental decay. Practice of good oral hygiene including daily brushing, flossing and the use of appropriate mouthwash can significantly reduce the number of oral bacteria, including S. mutans and inhibit their proliferation. The objective of this study is to investigate t of various herbal toothpaste in reducing the count of streptococcus mutants by invitro method.

Materials and method:
Five different commercially available herbal toothpastes were chosen as the samples. Culture was carried out using agar well di cultures of streptococcus mutants were obtained which was isolated using Mutans -Sanguis agar.The zones of incubation were measured in mm diameter after the period of 24 hrs.
Result: Sample A with miswak extract has shown the highest zone of incubation measuring diameter of 39mm. Hence it is clear that, miswak extract in the toothpaste has a greater effect in reducing the mutants counts. It has the greater effect than the chlorexdine control.
Over 400 species of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria Anaerobic bacteria outnumber their aerobic counterparts by a ratio of 10:1 to 100:1. These gingival crevice, the mucous membranes, the dorsum of the tongue and saliva [1]. At birth the oral cavity is sterile but rapidly becomes colonized from the environment, particularly from the mother in the first Dental caries is a disease, in which microbial fermentation of dietary carbohydrates forms lactic and other acids that leads to localized demineralization and destruction of the teeth. A cariogenic biofilm at a single tooth site may billion bacteria, of which species of mutansstreptococci are critical components. The characteristics contributing their cariogenicity are; ability to transport sugar, produces acid, tolerates acid's and produce extracellular and intracellular polysaccharides measures proposed for the prevention of dental diseases include antibacterial measures, dietary measures, modification in plaque metabolism and attack [2]. Mechanical plaque control measures, such as toothbrushes, dental floss, toothpicks and interdental brushes used in conjunction with chemical plaque control aids, e.g. mouthrinses and medicated toothpastes aiding oral hygiene [4]. But in most people, brushing alone is inadequate to remove the biofilm completely which may leads to the dental caries and periodontal diseases. Hence herbal toothpastes with antimicrobial activity can be used to maintain good oral hygiene. The main purpose of this study is to analyse the effects of various herbal toothpastes in reducing the streptococcus mutants count which colonise to form dental caries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Before starting this study, various brands of commercially available herbal toothpastes were obtained. Five toothpastes

Chennai
To investigate the effect of various herbal toothpaste in reducing the Streptococcus mutans is a facultatively anaerobic, gram-positive coccus commonly found in the human oral cavity and is a significant contributor to tooth decay. Early colonizers of the tooth surface are mainly Neisseria spp. and streptococci, including mutans. The growth and metabolism of these pioneer species changes local environmental conditions. Thereby enabling more fastidious organisms to further colonize after them, forming dental plaque. The combination of plaque and acid leads to dental Practice of good oral hygiene including daily brushing, flossing and the use of appropriate mouthwash can significantly reduce the number of oral bacteria, including S. mutans and inhibit their proliferation. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of various herbal toothpaste in reducing the count of streptococcus mutants by invitro Five different commercially available herbal toothpastes were chosen as the samples. Culture was carried out using agar well diffusion method.Pure cultures of streptococcus mutants were obtained which was isolated using selective media .The zones of incubation were measured in mm diameter after the Sample A with miswak extract has shown the highest zone of incubation measuring diameter of 39mm. Hence it is clear that, miswak extract in the toothpaste has a greater effect in reducing the mutants counts. It has the greater effect than the chlorexdine extracellular and intracellular polysaccharides [3].Various measures proposed for the prevention of dental diseases include antibacterial measures, dietary measures, modification in plaque metabolism and increasing resistance to tooth . Mechanical plaque control measures, such as toothbrushes, dental floss, toothpicks and interdental brushes used in conjunction with chemical plaque control aids, e.g. mouthrinses and medicated toothpastes are very popular in [4]. But in most people, brushing alone is inadequate to remove the biofilm completely which may leads to the dental caries and periodontal diseases. Hence herbal toothpastes with antimicrobial activity can be used to n good oral hygiene. The main purpose of this study is to analyse the effects of various herbal toothpastes in reducing the streptococcus mutants count which colonise to form dental

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Before starting this study, various brands of commercially available herbal toothpastes were obtained. Five toothpastes

Research Article
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which roperly cited. Culture was carried out using agar well diffusion method. Broth culture of the bacterial culture of the bacterial was adjusted to 0.5 McFarland turbidity standard. Lawn culture of the test organism was made on the Muller Hinton agar plates using sterile cotton swab and the plates were dried for 15 minutes. A sterile cotton swab was used to make wells measuring 6mm diameter and samples were introduced directly on the wells. The zones of incubation were measured in mm diameter after the period of 24 hrs. The results were analysed and noted.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Nowadays, most of the people use toothbrush and for maintaining oral hygiene. So the mechanical and chemical form of oral hygiene aids help in preventing oral diseases like dental caries and periodontal diseases. Many of the toothpastes are well marketed with their highlighted benefits. Many of the products claims to have antimicrobial activity resulting in the dilemma of the consumers. Hence this research is carried out to evaluate the invitro antibacterial activity of commercially available herbal toothpastes.
The antibacterial activity of the toothpastes was screened by using modified well diffusion technique and the zone of inhibition was measured in mm diameter.The results were analysed and tabulated (Table.2 and Graph.1).   Culture was carried out using agar well diffusion method. Broth culture of the bacterial culture of the bacterial strain was adjusted to 0.5 McFarland turbidity standard. Lawn culture of the test organism was made on the Muller Hinton agar plates using sterile cotton swab and the plates were dried for 15 minutes. A sterile cotton swab was used to make wells 6mm diameter and samples were introduced directly on the wells. The zones of incubation were measured in mm diameter after the period of 24 hrs. The results were Nowadays, most of the people use toothbrush and toothpastes mechanical and chemical form of oral hygiene aids help in preventing oral diseases like dental caries and periodontal diseases. Many of the toothpastes are well marketed with their highlighted benefits.
of the products claims to have antimicrobial activity resulting in the dilemma of the consumers. Hence this research is carried out to evaluate the invitro antibacterial activity of commercially available herbal toothpastes. the toothpastes was screened by using modified well diffusion technique and the zone of inhibition was measured in mm diameter.The results were (Table.2 and Graph.1).
From the results, it is clear that the toothpaste with miswak content (toothpaste.1) shows the highe measuring 39mm diameter. It has the greater effect than the chlorexdine control which forms the zone of incubation of 27mm.
The least antibacterial activity was exhibited by the toothpaste.3 and toothpaste.5. This may be due to the ingredients present which may have least antibacterial activity against streptococcus mutants.

CONCLUSION
From this study, it is clear that folk medicine is can be effective as the modern medicine against pathogens. The use of herbal medicine is both economic and safe alternative to treat diseases. Normal toothpaste contains chemicals like fluoride, saccharin etc., Excess use of these contents could damage the tooth surface and causes the teeth to become mottled. Since herbal toothpastes are devoid of and effective in reducing mutants count, use of these should be encouraged.

3074, April 2017
From the results, it is clear that the toothpaste with miswak (toothpaste.1) shows the highest zone of inhibition 39mm diameter. It has the greater effect than the chlorexdine control which forms the zone of incubation of The least antibacterial activity was exhibited by the toothpaste.3 and toothpaste.5. This may be due to the ingredients present which may have least antibacterial activity against streptococcus mutants.
From this study, it is clear that folk medicine is can be effective as the modern medicine against pathogens. The use economic and safe alternative to treat diseases. Normal toothpaste contains chemicals like fluoride, saccharin etc., Excess use of these contents could damage the tooth surface and causes the teeth to become mottled. Since herbal toothpastes are devoid of these contents and effective in reducing mutants count, use of these should