Propolis and Diet Rich in Polyphenols as Cariostatic Agents Reducing Accumulation of Dental Plaque

Conducted studies indicate the relationship between oral health and systemic diseases. Moreover, the latest research indicated that cariogenic bacteria may severely influence the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection and increase risk of COVID-19 complications. This article aims to review various applications of propolis and pay attention to a healthy diet rich in polyphenols, which may allow the reduction of dental plaque accumulation. A literature review has been conducted from June until November 2021. It showed that propolis could be a useful agent in decreasing the accumulation of dental plaque. Moreover, a diet rich in polyphenols prevents cariogenic bacteria and reduces the accumulation of dental plaque. A reduction of a dental plaque may influence the risk of a severe course of COVID-19. Therefore, propolis and a diet rich in polyphenols may play an important role in prophylaxis of systemic diseases. Recently, it has been proven that oral infection may affect cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, respiratory system, nervous system, as well as may be a risk factor for diabetes mellitus. These aspects should stimulate clinicians to further research about polyphenols.

Ethanol extract of soursop leaves inhibits acid production and adhesion of Streptococcus mutans

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Dental caries and dental plaque are the most popular global oral health problems. The primary step of dental caries is characterized by damage of tooth surfaces affected by acids which are by-products of sugar metabolism by a cariogenic bacteria. One of the cariogenic bacteria is Streptococcus mutans. Annona muricata is traditionally applied as an herbal remedy for various illnesses and has been recognized in a previous study as an antimicrobial agent. The aim of this study was to investigate acid production and adhesion of ethanol extract of Soursop on Streptococcus mutans. Methods: Soursop leaf extracted by maceration using 70% ethanol solvent. The extracts obtained were tested at various concentrations. To examine the effect of ethanol extract of Soursop on acid production by S. mutans, the pH of the culture was determined using a pH meter. Inhibition of adhesion of S. mutans to the saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (S-HA) discs was quantified using colony counting on TYS20B agar plates. Results: The pH of S. mutans cultures in the presence of ethanol extract of Soursop leaf at various concentrations was higher than negative control, but there were no differences in pH value between the various concentrations of ethanol extract of Soursop leaf. Adhesion of S. mutans to S-HA discs was inhibited by various concentrations of ethanol extract of Soursop leaf. Adhesion decreased with increasing concentrations of ethanol extract of Soursop leaf, but there was not significant difference in colony count between the various concentrations of ethanol extract of Soursop leaf. Conclusions: Ethanol extract of Soursop leaf attenuates the acid production and adhesion of S. mutans to hydroxyapatite discs. Keywords: Soursop (Annona muricata); Streptococcus mutans; acid production; adhesion

Antibacterial Effect of Gold Nanoparticles Coated Dental Floss against Cariogenic Bacteria

Background: Carious lesions can occur on the proximal surfaces of the posterior teeth. Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, are the main acidogenic bacteria that are commonly associated to dental caries. Interproximal cleaning is an important form of oral self-care habits, considering such areas of the dentition are easily affected by caries. Accordingly, dental floss has been used as an additional tool to enhance the quality of the cleaning process. It is reasonable that dental flossing should reduce interproximal caries risk because it is capable of removing parts of the interproximal plaque. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of gold nanoparticle (AuNPs), when coated on unwaxed dental floss.Methods: Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus were cultured in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) agar. Broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of the AuNPs with subcultures so obtained. Then, the bacteria were grown and spread on blood agar on which identical lengths (20mm) of unwaxed dental floss coated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) at concentration of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 mg/mL were placed. Control included untreated unwaxed dental floss and unwaxed dental floss with 0.2% Chlorhexidine (CHX). Five randomized sites of the inhibition zones were measured in millimeters in each concentration per floss. Means ± S.D. of the inhibition zones were calculated.Results: The MIC and MBC of AuNPs against S. sobrinus and S. mutans were 0.5 μg/mL and 1.0 μg/mL, respectively. The results indicated that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coated unwaxed dental floss, placed on blood agar with S. mutans and S. sobrinus demonstrated significant inhibition of bacterial growth. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coated unwaxed dental floss at 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 mg/mL resulted in zones of inhibition ranging from 2.93 ± 0.30 mm to 4.71 ± 0.32 mm for S. sobrinus and 2.95 ± 1.73 mm to 5.18 ± 0.61 mm for S. mutans, respectively.Conclusion: Invitro study demonstrated that the AuNPs-coated unwaxed dental floss had antibacterial activities against cariogenic bacteria.

The Role of Sugars in the Caries Process

The carious disease is a post-eruptive infectious pathology of the hard tissues of the tooth. It is the most common dental disease, with a prevalence of 60 to 90% in school children worldwide. It is a significant public health issue. The caries process involves cariogenic bacteria (mutans streptococci - lactobacilli), which, by metabolizing carbohydrates, produce acids that lower the pH of the oral cavity below a critical threshold and thus cause demineralization of the enamel.Indeed, the consumption of sugars and sweetened products is a known risk factor for caries induction. The most cariogenic sugars are the fast sugars, mainly sucrose, widely used in the food industry. In addition to the nature of the sugar, several other factors condition the appearance of caries disease, namely the quantity of sugar consumed, its consistency, the duration of its contact with the teeth, the time and frequency of its consumption.Among the pillars of caries prevention, the control of the frequency and timing of consumption is essential. If the eradication of free sugars remains challenging to apply, their consumption must be reduced. This article aims first to discuss the link between the different types of sugars and the caries process and then present the current recommendations for the consumption of sugars to prevent caries disease.

Effect of Nanostructures on the Properties of Glass Ionomer Dental Restoratives/Cements: A Comprehensive Narrative Review

Overall perspective of nanotechnology and reinforcement of dental biomaterials by nanoparticles has been reported in the literature. However, the literature regarding the reinforcement of dental biomaterials after incorporating various nanostructures is sparse. The present review addresses current developments of glass ionomer cements (GICs) after incorporating various metallic, polymeric, inorganic and carbon-based nanostructures. In addition, types, applications, and implications of various nanostructures incorporated in GICs are discussed. Most of the attempts by researchers are based on the laboratory-based studies; hence, it warrants long-term clinical trials to aid the development of suitable materials for the load bearing posterior dentition. Nevertheless, a few meaningful conclusions are drawn from this substantial piece of work; they are as follows: (1) most of the nanostructures are likely to enhance the mechanical strength of GICs; (2) certain nanostructures improve the antibacterial activity of GICs against the cariogenic bacteria; (3) clinical translation of these promising outcomes are completely missing, and (4) the nanostructured modified GICs could perform better than their conventional counterparts in the load bearing posterior dentition.

DexA70, the Truncated Form of a Self-Produced Dextranase, Effectively Disrupts Streptococcus mutans Biofilm

Billions of people suffer from dental caries every year in spite of the effort to reduce the prevalence over the past few decades. Streptococcus mutans is the leading member of a specific group of cariogenic bacteria that cause dental caries. S. mutans forms biofilm, which is highly resistant to harsh environment, host immunity, and antimicrobial treatments. In this study, we found that S. mutans biofilm is highly resistant to both antimicrobial agents and lysozyme. DexA70, the truncated form of DexA (amino acids 100–732), a dextranase in S. mutans, prevents S. mutans biofilm formation and disassembles existing biofilms within minutes at nanomolar concentrations when supplied exogenously. DexA70 treatment markedly enhances biofilm sensitivity to antimicrobial agents and lysozyme, indicating its great potential in combating biofilm-related dental caries.

The estimation of the viable count of mutans streptococcus in waterpipe smokers and cigarette smokers

Background: Waterpipe and cigarette are two products of tobacco consumption, tobacco use has detrimental effects on the oral cavity, numerous studies around the world have reported a significant relationship between smoking and increase dental caries and viable count of cariogenic bacteria, Materials and Methods: unstimulated saliva was collected from 84 subjects and divided equally into three groups waterpipe smokers, cigarette smokers, and non-smokers all of the participants are adult male aged between 25-60 years, dental caries was measured by use DMFT index, while S.mutans and S.sobrinus were isolated by using a selective medium SB 20M (Sugar bacitracin-20 modified) agar Results: this present study showed a significant (p≤0.01). higher DMFT, DT, MT, and FT among cigarette smokers group than both waterpipe smokers and non-smokers groups. The viable count of S mutans was significantly (p≤0.01).higher in the cigarette smokers group followed by the waterpipe smokers group and then the non-smoker's group, while the viable count of S sobrinus showed no statistical differences (P>0.05) between groups. The correlation of DMFT with S.mutans, and S sobrinus count, were significantly positive (p ≤0.05), in the cigarette smokers group only Conclusion: Dental caries increase in cigarette smokers, where the DMFT and S mutans viable count are less affected by waterpipe than cigarette smoking, a positive correlation is found between DMFT and .mutans streptococcus count only in cigarette smokers

The Influence of Propolis on Dental Plaque Reduction and the Correlation between Dental Plaque and Severity of COVID-19 Complications—A Literature Review

Current studies suggest that cariogenic bacteria in dental plaque influence the severity of COVID-19 complications since the oral cavity is a reservoir for respiratory pathogens potentially responsible for the development of hospital-acquired pneumonia. This article focuses on the association between dental plaque and COVID-19 concerning the influence of altered oral biofilm on the risk of increased severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, it concentrates on the usefulness of propolis, with its apitherapeutic antibacterial properties, for treating oral bacterial infections co-occurring with SARS-CoV-2 infection. A review of the literature on PubMed, Cochrane Library and Medline between 2000 and 2021 revealed 56 published articles indicating that a link between dental plaque and COVID-19 complications was probable. Furthermore, they indicated that propolis may minimize COVID-19 severity by reducing dental plaque accumulation. The possibility that improved oral health could reduce the risk of COVID-19 complications should be of interest to scientists.