ABSRACT

Antimicrobial agents have been used as chemotherapeutic agent to improve oral health. This in vitro study was carried out to investigate the time-concentration exposure relationships of the antimicrobial activity ofthe toothpastes. A total offive toothpastes (Colgate, Oral B, Sensodyne, Close up herbal and Aquafresh) were tested for the antimicrobial activity against three oral pathogenic organisms isolated from human oral cavity {Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and Lactobacillus acidiophilus). The results were obtained by comparing antimicrobial efficacy of the different toothpastes against the three test pathogens. Colgate toothpaste which contain triclosan and sodium fluoride as its active ingredient exhibited a significant reduction in the population of Candida albicans, Oral B, Sensodyne and Aquafresh which are fluorinated product that have sodium fluoride as their active ingredient also exhibited reduction in Candida albicans burden while Close up Herbal which contain herbal extracts and sodium fluoride as active ingredient showed the least significant reduction in the burden ofCandida albicans. Oral B showed a significant reduction in the population of Staphylococcus aureus compared to the other toothpastes and Close up Herbal showed the least significant reduction in the burden of Staphylococcus aureus. Colgate toothpaste showed a greater significant reduction in the population of Lactobacillus acidiophilus, Aquafresh also showed a significant reduction in the population Lactobacillus acidiophilus while Close up Herbal showed the least significant reduction in the burden ofLactobacillus acidiophilus. In this present study, Colgate toothpaste emerged as the most effective, based on the significant reduction in the population ofthe three tested pathogens.Water which serve as control had no effect against the isolates