Antimicrobial effect against oral microbiota after continuous use of natural oral spray products

Abstract

So far as we know there were several natural extracts possessed antimicrobial activity against oral microbiota. These natural extracts can be used as an alternative to replace chlorhexidine mouthwash which retains unfavorable flavor and also has some adverse effects. However, the antimicrobial activity of the natural extracts in commercial products have never been demonstrated especially in vivo studies. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the antimicrobial activity of natural oral spray against oral bacteria compared with chlorhexidine mouthwash, and patient satisfaction. Participants had used two types of commercial natural oral spray products, including essential oil and essential oil with mangosteen extract, and chlorhexidine mouthwash, with 2 weeks of washout period between each product. To determine the antifungal and antibacterial activity, Unstimulated saliva samples were collected before and after using each product for microbial culture. Total colony forming units (CFUs) were enumerated and compared. Then, satisfaction score was recorded by questionnaire. The results demonstrated that natural oral spray products reduced the total colony forming units after continuous use for 2 weeks, similar to the antimicrobial effect of chlorhexidine, and most patients expressed better user satisfaction than chlorhexidine mouthwash. This study suggests that the oral spray with essential oil and mangosteen extract demonstrates effective antimicrobial activity and favored patient compliance.