Effect of use of dextranase based mouthwash on oral plaque in Thai people: A preliminary report

Abstract

© 2019 IEEE. The mouth is a habitat for several diverse microbial populations, especially bacterial community. Availability of dietary materials and favorable conditions facilities the formation of dental plaque also called as tooth plaque, and dental biofilm is a soft, gluey film that builds up on teeth made up of microbes and their matrix. Oral biofilm can form on enamel, gingiva, dentin, cementum, mucosa, carious lesion, denture, dental implant, etc. the structure and organization of eth biofilm vary based on the site of the plaque formation. Streptococcus species are the prime species among the cariogenic bacterial population, can initiate the biofilm formation, and secretes bacterial matrix. The dextran is one of the key players involved in the development of oral biofilm. Dextranase is an enzyme involved in the hydrolysis of \alpha-(1-6)-D-glycoside linkages in dextran. The use of dextranase in oral hygiene product may help to improve oral health and reduce dental plaque. With that notion, the current study was carried out to assess the effect of the use of dextranase-containing mouthwash (DMW) on the oral plaque of Thai people. A four-week use of DMW significantly reduced the dental plaques (1.75 \pm 0.12) when compared to baseline (2.142 \pm 0.14). The use of DMW does not affect the probing depth of the subjects. The results clearly suggested that DMW could be used as a pharmacological agent to treat dental plaques without causing any serious side effects. Further detailed research required to validate the beneficial effect of DMW use in term of oral hygiene.