Objectives:
An in-vitro assessment of the anti-microbial activity of GC Tooth Mousse, containing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) with and without fluoride.
Methods:
An agar dilution method, Addy et al (J. Dent 1988; 16: 27-31), was used. Stock solutions were prepared from 3g of Tooth Mousse (CPP-ACP) and Tooth Mousse Plus (CPP-ACP and Fluoride 500ppm) suspended in 10ml of sterile water. Serial dilutions of these solutions and 0.2% Chlorhexidine mouthwash (control) were prepared from 1:1 to 1:64. The test organisms were clinical isolates of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus oralis. Three 10mm diameter wells were cut in plates of the appropriate agar growth medium. The surface of each plate was inoculated with the appropriate test organism. For each concentration of test material a different plate was used and 100μl of the test solution were placed in each of the three wells. The plates were incubated in 5% CO2 for S. mutans and an anaerobic environment for L. oralis, both at 37°C for 48 hours. Measurements were then taken for the minimum distance of growth inhibition from each well.
Results:
For the range of concentrations tested both Tooth Mousse and Tooth Mousse Plus showed no zone of growth inhibition against either S. mutans or L. oralis. Control results for S. mutans and Chlorhexidine showed mean zones of inhibition ranging from 8mm to 3mm for dilutions tested. Results for L. oralis and Chlorhexidine demonstrated complete inhibition at 1:1 dilution, and 4mm inhibition at 1:16 dilution.
Conclusion:
Previous studies have shown CPP-ACP to be a useful product to aid in the reversal of the carious process. The current formulations of GC Tooth Mousse using this agar dilution methodology did not exhibit an anti-microbial effect on clinical isolates of S. mutans or L. oralis.