THE FFECTS OF A DENTIFRICE CONTAINING PROPOLIS ON MUTANS STREPTOCOCCI A CLINICO-MICROBIOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Propolis is a natural resinous mixture produced by honeybees, which exhibits anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, cytostatic and cariostatic properties. The aim of the study was to evaluatethe anti-bacterial efficacy of a propolis based dentifrice on Mutans Streptococci colonizing the oral cavityof young patients using Dentocult® SM strip mutans test.METHODS: Screening of 367 male subjects within the age group of 7-12 years was carried out. A totalof 30 children were included in the study. They were instructed to use a Propolis dentifrice (Probee,TMQuasi-Medical Products, Seoul Propolis) daily for three minutes over a period of four weeks. Plaque andsalivary samples were collected at baseline, 1 st week, 3 rd week and 4 th week and were analyzed for MutansStreptococci count using Dentocult® SM strip Mutans kit (Orion Diagnostica Oy, Finland). Student pairedt-test and Friedman test were used for statistical analysis.RESULTS: It was unveiled that mean Mutans streptococci count at 1 st week and 4 th week, showedsignificant reduction (p≤0.0001), compared to baseline scores. Using Friedman’s test, statisticallysignificant difference was found between baseline and 1 st week, 3 rd week and 4 th week follow up (P <0.001).CONCLUSION: Propolis dentifrice reduces in-vivo microbial load in microenvironments especiallyagainst Mutans streptococci in the oral cavity of young patients. Thus, it’s potential to be inculcated andused as an alternative measure to prevent dental caries can be considered and further investigationinvolving greater number of participants is recommended.