The Salivary Levels of Cariogenic Microorganisms and Home Tooth Whitening

Objectives:To investigate the effect of tooth whitening on salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans(SM) and Lactobacillus(LB). Methods:The study covered 60 patients (18 to 48 years). The brush-applied tooth whitening products used contained 5.3% to 6.7% hydrogen peroxide as an active agent. Saliva samples were tested prior to application of tooth whitening products and after 3 months of treatment, using Dentocult SM-Strip mutans (Orion Diagnostica) and Dentocult LB (Orion Diagnostica). Results:Prior to application of the tooth whitening products: level of LB microorganisms: 11.7% constituted patients whose LB level reached 1000CFU/ml (7 persons), 36.6% of patients reached an LB level of 10.000CFU/ml (22 persons), 35.0% of patients reached an LB level of 100.000CFU/ml (21 persons), 16.7% of patients reached an LB level of 1.000.000CFU/ml (10 persons); level of SM micro-organisms: there were no patients recorded in Class 0 ( 0%), 8 persons were recorded in Class 1 (13.4%), 31 persons were recorded in Class 2 (51.6%), and 21 persons were recorded in Class 3 (35%). After 3 months of treatment: level of LB microorganisms: 0% constituted patients whose LB level was <1000CFU/ml – (0 persons), 16.7% of patients reached an LB level of 1000CFU/ml (10 persons), 46.7% of patients reached an LB level of 10.000CFU/ml (28 patients), 36.6% of patients reached an LB level of 100.000CFU/ml (22 persons). There were no patients recorded with an LB level of 1.000.000CFU/ml; level of SM microorganisms: 0% constituted patients recorded in Class 0 (0 persons), 23.3% of patients were recorded in Class 1 (14 persons), 71.7% of patients were recorded in Class 2 (43 persons), 5% of patients were recorded in Class 3 (3 persons). For statistical analysis Mann-Whitney test was used. Conclusions:The preliminary study revealed that the use of tooth whitening products after 3 months significantly reduced the level of cariogenic microorganisms in the saliva.