BACKGROUND: Fixed orthodontic appliances create areas of plaque stagnation leading to an increase in the volume, structure, and composition of plaque. This increases the chances of decalcification and white spot lesions. Oil pulling, an ancient practice involving swishing oil in the mouth, has demonstrated a significant reduction in plaque scores after 45 days, and a reduction in salivary Streptococcus mutans concentration in few studies done in nonorthodontic subjects. The aim was to compare the concentration of S. mutans in plaque around orthodontic brackets in patients using oil pulling with sesame oil and those on routine oral hygiene.
METHODS: Twenty subjects requiring fixed orthodontic treatment were divided into two equal groups: Group A-Oil pulling and Group B-Control. All subjects were instructed to follow common oral hygiene methods and in addition, Group A was instructed to perform oil pulling for 30 days starting 1 month after placement of fixed appliances. Plaque specimens were collected from labial surfaces of maxillary lateral incisors and quantification of S. mutans was done using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Mean and standard deviations for descriptive statistics, paired, and unpaired sample t-tests were analyzed.
RESULTS: Comparison of S. mutans concentration between T1 and T2 demonstrated a significant difference in both control and study groups. The experimental group showed significantly lesser S. mutans concentration compared to the control group.
CONCLUSIONS: Oil-pulling therapy with sesame oil resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the concentration of S. mutans in the plaque around orthodontic brackets.

UNASSIGNED: This study investigated the influence of nanohydroxyapatite-containing (nanoHAP) lozenge on plaque pH following sucrose intake.
UNASSIGNED: Sixteen adult subjects were enrolled in this double-blind crossover study composed of four interventions: (1) 10% w/v sucrose solution, (2) 10% w/v sorbitol solution, (3) nanoHAP lozenge, and (4) 10% w/v sucrose solution challenge followed by nanoHAP lozenge. Following the determination of each subject\'s resting plaque pH, the pH was measured at different time intervals from 3 to 30 minutes from the start of intervention, with 7 days interval between the applications of different interventions. The data were analyzed using the analysis of variance and Tukey\'s test (α < 0.05).
UNASSIGNED: While sorbitol produces no change in plaque pH, nanoHAP-lozenge increased the plaque pH from a baseline of 7.0 ± 0.3 (mean ± sd) to 7.8 ± 0.2 (mean ± sd) within 30 minutes. Sucrose lowered the plaque pH from a baseline of 7.0 ± 0.4 (mean ± sd) to the lowest minimum of 5.1 ± 0.1 (mean ± sd) at the 7th minute, rising above the critical pH of enamel dissolution (5.5) at 12th minute and the baseline pH in more than 30 minutes. With lozenge intervention following sucrose challenge, plaque pH rose to 5.5 in 8 min, and to the baseline pH in 24 min. The cH area (Hydrogen ion concentration area) produced by sucrose (1.82 sq. units) was significantly (p < 0.05) greater than that produced when sucrose was challenged with lozenge (0.48 sq. units).
UNASSIGNED: Nanohydroxyapatite-containing lozenge increased plaque pH, reduced plaque pH drop in the presence of sucrose, and facilitated the rapid recovery of plaque pH after sucrose intake.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the oral microbiota among caries-free (CF) with caries-affected (CA) individuals, both at taxonomic and at functional levels.
METHODS: This systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. A structured search was carried out in MEDLINE/PUBMED, Web of Science, EMBASE, LILACS, SciELO, Scopus and Google Scholar databases up to September, 2023. Observational studies, without any restriction on date of publication and using next-generation targeted or untargeted sequencing methods for identification of microbial communities were included. Qualitative synthesis was performed from all included studies.
RESULTS: 54 studies were included (43 cross-sectional; 11 cohort) comprising more than 3486 participants (at least 1666 CF and 1820 CA) whose saliva and/or dental plaque were used as clinical samples. Methodological quality was graded as \"fair\" for most of the studies. The abundance of 87 bacterial and 44 fungal genera were statistically different among CF and CA individuals. Atopobium spp., Capnocytophaga spp., Lactobacillus spp., Prevotella spp., Scardovia spp., Selenomonas spp. among others were frequently reported as being more abundant in CA individuals. Several functional patterns, such as lipids, carbohydrate, starch, sucrose, amino sugar metabolisms, among others, were identified as being specifically related to CF or to CA conditions.
CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the variability among the included studies and of the predominance of qualitative synthesis, groups of microorganisms as well as specific functional profiles coded by the assessed microbiota are differently abundant among caries-affected and caries-free individuals. These results need to be interpreted with caution considering the limitations inherent to each assessed primary study.

Organisms display an immense variety of shapes, sizes, and reproductive strategies. At microscopic scales, bacterial cell morphology and growth dynamics are adaptive traits that influence the spatial organization of microbial communities. In one such community-the human dental plaque biofilm-a network of filamentous Corynebacterium matruchotii cells forms the core of bacterial consortia known as hedgehogs, but the processes that generate these structures are unclear. Here, using live-cell time-lapse microscopy and fluorescent D-amino acids to track peptidoglycan biosynthesis, we report an extraordinary example of simultaneous multiple division within the domain Bacteria. We show that C. matruchotii cells elongate at one pole through tip extension, similar to the growth strategy of soil-dwelling Streptomyces bacteria. Filaments elongate rapidly, at rates more than five times greater than other closely related bacterial species. Following elongation, many septa form simultaneously, and each cell divides into 3 to 14 daughter cells, depending on the length of the mother filament. The daughter cells then nucleate outgrowth of new thinner vegetative filaments, generating the classic \"whip handle\" morphology of this taxon. Our results expand the known diversity of bacterial cell cycles and help explain how this filamentous bacterium can compete for space, access nutrients, and form important interspecies interactions within dental plaque.

BACKGROUND: Periodontal disease results in oral dysbiosis, increasing plaque virulence and oxidative stress. Stannous fluoride (SnF2) binds lipopolysaccharides to reduce plaque virulence. This study prospectively assessed SnF2 effects on oxidative stress in adults with gingivitis.
METHODS: This was a 2-month, single-center, single-treatment clinical trial. Twenty \"disease\" (> 20 bleeding sites with ≥ 3 pockets 3 mm-4 mm deep) and 20 \"healthy\" (≤ 3 bleeding sites with pockets ≤ 2 mm deep) adults were enrolled. All participants were instructed to use SnF2 dentifrice twice daily for 2 months. An oral examination, Modified Gingival Index (MGI) examination and Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI) examination were conducted at baseline, 1 month and 2 months. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), saliva, oral lavage and supragingival plaque were collected at each visit to evaluate: Endotoxins, Protein Carbonyls, L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), Oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxi-LDL), IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP). A subset-analysis examined participants considered at higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Change-from-baseline analyses within each group were of primary interest.
RESULTS: The disease group showed statistically significant reductions in GBI at Month 1 (67%) and Month 2 (85%) and in MGI at Month 1 (36%) and Month 2 (51%) versus baseline (p < 0.001). At baseline, the disease group showed greater LDH in GCF and oxi-LDL levels in saliva versus the healthy group (p ≤ 0.01). Total antioxidant capacity (FRAP) in saliva increased versus baseline for the disease group at Months 1 and 2 (p < 0.05), and levels for the disease group were greater than the healthy group at both timepoints (p < 0.05). SnF2 treatment reduced endotoxins (lavage) for both disease and healthy groups at Month 2 (p ≤ 0.021) versus baseline. There was a reduction in oxidative stress markers, namely protein carbonyl in saliva, at Months 1 and 2 (p < 0.001) for both groups and a reduction in cytokine IL-6 (lavage) in the disease group at Month 2 (p = 0.005). A subset analysis of participants at higher coronary disease risk showed reductions in endotoxins in lavage, oxi-LDL, and CRP in saliva at Month 2 (p ≤ 0.04).
CONCLUSIONS: SnF2 dentifrice use reversed gingival inflammation, suppressed endotoxins and reduced some harmful oxidant products in saliva and gingiva.
BACKGROUND: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05326373, registered on 13/04/2022.

The goal of this comprehensive review was to verify if the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) bacteria in patients with dyspepsia is higher in the oral cavity of periodontal or non-periodontal patients. The bibliographic search was conducted on scientific studies published in PubMed, Cochrane Library, SciELO, and BVS. The focus question was: \"In patients with dyspepsia and periodontitis, is the prevalence of Hp bacteria in the oral cavity higher than in patients with only dyspepsia or without any disease?\" The inclusion criteria were human studies in English, Portuguese, or Spanish languages, published between 2000 and 2022, that included patients over the age of 18 and aimed to evaluate the presence of Hp bacteria in the oral cavity and in the protective mucosal layer of the gastric lining of patients with the diseases (periodontitis and dyspepsia) or without disease; clinical trials, randomized controlled clinical trials, comparative studies, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies, and cohort studies. The methodological quality evaluation of the included articles was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools. The final scores could be of \"Low\" quality (at least two \"no\" [red] or ≥ five \"unclear\" found), \"Moderate\" quality (one \"no\" [red] was found or up to four \"unclear\" criteria were met), or \"High\" quality (all green [yes] or at maximum two \"unclear\"). Of 155 potentially eligible articles, 10 were included in this comprehensive review after the application of the eligibility criteria. The selected studies were scrutinized regarding the relationship between Hp colonization in the oral cavity and stomach, its impact on severity and complications of gastric infection, as well as the effect of the presence of oral and gastric Hp on dental and systemic parameters. Hp can colonize periodontal pockets regardless of its presence in the stomach. There was a higher prevalence of oral biofilm in dyspeptic patients with periodontal disease, and worse control of bleeding and low oral hygiene was observed in periodontal compared to non-periodontal patients. For que quality assessment, the scientific studies included presented low to moderate methodological quality. Conclusions: It is possible to conclude that Hp is a bacterium that can colonize dental plaque independently of the stomach and vice versa; however, when both diseases are found, its presence may be more significant. Supra and subgingival dental plaque may be a reservoir of Hp, suggesting that patients with gastric infections are more likely to have Hp in the oral cavity. The results must be carefully analyzed due to the limitations present in this review.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the stain preventing ability of a new chlorhexidine mouthwash while maintaining efficacy using a randomized clinical trial design.
METHODS: 98 subjects were enrolled and completed a 4-week clinical study that evaluated the effectiveness of the new mouthwash on plaque, gingivitis, and staining as compared to a commercially available chlorhexidine mouthwash. A subset of 62 subjects was evaluated for the effectiveness of the mouthwashes against plaque bacteria.
RESULTS: After 4 weeks of use, the new chlorhexidine mouthwash reduced staining by 42.6% (P< 0.05) as compared to the commercially available mouthwash. The two mouthwashes were equivalent with regards to their effect on gingivitis, plaque, and plaque bacteria.
CONCLUSIONS: A new mouthwash, containing 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate, has been developed that delivers stain reduction while maintaining equivalent efficacy to a commercially available chlorhexidine mouthwash with regards to gingivitis, plaque, and plaque bacteria. These findings should be considered by dental practitioners when making recommendations to patients whose teeth stain easily and need an anti-gingivitis and anti-plaque mouthwash.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the in vitro antibacterial effect of Softsoap and Efferdent used as solutions to disinfect Lucitone 199 poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) resin used for dentures.
METHODS: S. mutans and plaque bacteria were grown for 24 hours, and suspended to a concentration of 1x10⁶ cells/ml. Bacterial suspensions (0.2 mL) were added to the decontaminated PMMA discs placed in a 48-well culture plate and incubated for 3 days at 37°C. The discs were rinsed to remove the unbound bacterial cells and then incubated for 60 minutes with 5% and 1% dilutions (triplicates) of each of the detergent solutions (0.3 ml). Discs were rinsed and then MTT reagent (0.2 ml) was added and incubated for 2 hours, then overnight with a solubilizing agent. An aliquot from each well (0.1 ml) was transferred to a 96-well flat bottom plate and absorbance was measured to OD @ 595 nm (MTT) of four samples for each data point. Normalized data was compared and statistically analyzed using a three-way ANOVA with Student-Newman-Keuls on Rank data with P< 0.05 for significance. Additionally, data were double-checked with the Holm-Sidak test.
RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between testing media for C. albicans and mixed plaque (P= 0.078) or testing duration in time at 24 hours and 21 days (P= 0.07). Statistically significant differences were found between all treatment solutions group combinations (P< 0.001) except for 30% Softsoap versus Efferdent (P= 0.056).
CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference between testing media for C. albicans and mixed plaque (P= 0.078) or testing duration at 24 hours and 21 days (P= 0.07). Statistically significant differences were noted between all treatment solutions group combinations (P< 0.001), However, there was no difference between 30% Softsoap and Efferdent (P= 0.056).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to quantitatively and comprehensively investigate the combined effects of arginine and fluoride on the suppression of pathogenicity using an in situ biofilm model and next-generation sequencing (NGS).
METHODS: Using the in situ model, dental biofilms were formed and the viable bacterial counts and arginine activity in the arginine- and fluoride-containing dentifrice and control groups were measured. We also compared their effects on the bacterial microbiota and predictive functional factors in the control, arginine (arg), and arginine + fluoride (argF) groups using NGS analysis.
RESULTS: Compared to the control treatment, the use of 8 % arginine and 1450 ppm fluoride toothpaste resulted in significantly high oral NH4+ concentrations without affecting the number of viable bacteria (P < 0.05). NGS analysis revealed that the oral microbiota of the control, arg, and argF groups were significantly different. Heat map analysis of the predicted functional factors revealed that the arg group had different properties from the other groups and activated specific substrate metabolic pathways; contrastingly, argF treatment inhibited the activity of these pathways and prevented an increase in the abundance of bacterial genera that utilize substrates such as sucrose, suggesting the synergistic effect of arginine and fluoride.
CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the combination of arginine and fluoride has a synergistic effect on the bacterial microbiota and pathogenicity of dental biofilms compared with arginine alone.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the combination of arginine and fluoride could be used as an effective prebiotic and may inhibit the growth of bacteria associated with dental diseases.

OBJECTIVE: The major struggle in peri-implantitis therapy is the availability of successful decontamination of the infected implant surface. The main hypothesis of this study was the Er,Cr: YSGG laser decontamination efficacy investigation on the infected implant surfaces with various peri-implantitis defects. The primary objective of this study was to decide the efficacy of Er,Cr:YSGG laser as a decontamination tool at various peri-implantitis simulating defects. The secondary objective was to compare the efficacy of the Er,Cr: YSGG laser on oral biofilm removal between two protocols the first protocol (4 cycles at 2.5 min) and the second protocol (5 cycles at 5 min) at various peri-implantitis simulating defects.
METHODS: A total of 3 subjects whose plaque biofilms formed in-vivo on twenty-four tested implants were divided into four tested groups. Two native implants were tested as controls.The in vitro defect model was computer-aided designed and printed into a 3D-printed model with various anulations in peri-implant infrabony defects, which were 15,30,60,and 90 degrees.
RESULTS: Both Er, Cr: YSGG decontamination protocols at 50 mJ (1.5 W/30 Hz), 50% air, and 40% water were effective at reducing the total implant surface area/ biofilm ratio (%), but the second protocol had a markedly greater reduction in the duration of application (5 cycles at 5 min) than did the first protocol (4 cycles at 2.5 min).
CONCLUSIONS: The Er, Cr: YSGG laser is an effective decontamination device in various peri-implantitis defects. The second protocol(5 cycles at 5 min) with greater application time and circles is more effective than the first one. The defect angulation influence the decontamination capability in peri-implantitis therapy.
UNASSIGNED: Clinicians anticipate that the exploration of suitable therapeutic modalities for peri-implantitis therapy is limited by the obvious heterogeneity of the available evidence in the literature and need for a pre-clinical theoretical basis setup. The major challenges associated with peri-implantitis therapy include the successful decontamination of the infected implant surface, the absence of any damage to the treated implant surface with adequate surface roughness, and the biocompatibility of the implant surface, which allows osteoblastic cells to grow on the treated surface and is the key for successful re-osseointegration. Therefore, these are the expected empirical triads that need to be respected for successful peri-implantitis therapy. Failure of one of the triads represents a peri-implantitis therapeutic failure. The Er, Cr: YSGG laser is regarded as one of the expected devices for achieving the required triad.
BACKGROUND: \"Efficacy of Er,Cr YSGG Laser in Treatment of Peri-implantitis\".
RESULTS: gov ID NCT05137821. First Posted date: 30 -11-2021.