Objectives:
To investigate the antimicrobial effect of dentifrice containing Anacardium occidentale leaf extract on primary bacterial colonizer; Sreptococcus mutans in dental plaque and saliva as well as its effects on dental plaque deposition and gingivitis.
Materials and Methods:
A randomized, double-blind, crossover method was conducted in 13 healthy volunteers with GI 0.0-2.0, PI 2.0-4.0 and S. mutans in saliva was not lower than 1 x 104 CFU/ml. The volunteers were assigned to use 3 dentifrices, each for 2 weeks, as follow: dentifrice containing Anacardium occidentale leaf extract (test), dentifrice without Anacardium occidentale leaf extract (negative control) and dentifrice containing 0.3% Triclosan (positive control). Before and after using the assigned dentifrice, GI and PI scores were measured as well as unstimulated saliva and dental plaque from the most anterior molars of each quadrants were collected for measuring the number of S. mutans. The volunteers had, each for 2 weeks, wash out period by using commercial fluoride dentifrice before starting the next assigned dentifrice until everyone completed using 3 dentifrices.
Results:
There were no statistical significant differences of GI, PI and the number of S. mutans in unstimulated saliva and dental plaque between before and after using each type of dentifrice and between each dentifrice (p = 0.33, Kruskal-Wallis test) except the number of S. mutans in dental plaque was significant difference between the dentifrice containing Anacardium occidentale leaf extract and 0.3% Triclosan (p = 0.017, Mann-Whitney test).
Conclusions:
The dentifrice containing Anacardium occidentale leaf extract has significant antimicrobial effect on primary bacterial colonizer; Sreptococcus mutans in dental plaque when compared to dentifrice containing 0.3% Triclosan. However, there have no effects on dental plaque deposition and gingivitis.