Antimicrobial efficacy of herbal, homeopathic and conventional dentifrices against oral microflora: An in vitro study

Abstract

Introduction This study compares the efficacy of herbal, homeopathic, and conventional dentifrices, on oral microflora using antibiotic susceptibility tests. Methods Three strains of microorganisms, Streptococcus Mutans, Escherichia Coli, and Candida Albicans, were taken and incubated in Mutans media, Mueller Hilton agar, and Sabouraud Dextrose agar, respectively. Different dilutions (1:5, 1:10 and 1:15) of several brands of commercial toothpaste with different compositions were made. Sterile disks were incorporated with an equal amount of prepared toothpaste formulations using a micropipette. These disks were then placed equidistant to each other, and the plates were incubated for 24 hours. Results The zone of inhibition against S. Mutans is found to be higher in homeopathic dentifrice 24 mm, 19 mm, and 20 mm, followed by herbal dentifrice 19 mm, 17 mm, and 13 mm, and the least by conventional dentifrice 17 mm, 15 mm and no inhibition, at 1:5, 1:10 and 1:15 dilution, respectively. The zone of inhibition against E. Coli is found to be higher in herbal dentifrice 18 mm, 17 mm and 16 mm followed by conventional dentifrice 18 mm, 17 mm, and 14 mm, and no inhibition by homeopathic dentifrice at 1:5, 1:10 and 1:15 dilution, respectively. Zone of inhibition against C. Albicans is found to be higher in herbal dentifrice 14 mm, 12 mm and 9 mm followed by conventional dentifrice 14 mm, 9 mm, and no inhibition, and the least by homeopathic dentifrice 10 mm, 9 mm and 7 mm, at 1:5, 1:10 and 1:15 dilutions, respectively. Conclusions Toothpaste formulations containing homeopathic and natural antimicrobial agents were more effective in controlling the oral microflora compared to toothpaste containing synthetic antimicrobial agents like triclosan.

Keywords

• fluoride
• dentifrice
• homeopathy
• oral microflora