Efficacy of three commercial mouth rinses containing chlorhexidine , herbal & sodium fluoride-triclosan- xylitol against salivary bacteria, streptococcus mutans: a microscopic study

Objective: The purpose of the present study is to compare the efficacy of three commercially available mouth rinses containing chlorhexidiene , herbal &sodium fluoride-triclosan- xylitol respectively against salivary bacteria, streptococcus mutans. Materials and Methodology- A sample of 60 subjects was selected from the single school of Jodhpur city and was randomly equally divided into 4 groups. The subjects were instructed to rinse the mouthwash 10 ml of mouthwash for one minute twice daily for fifteen days. Number of colony of Streptococcus mutans were counted by using Mitis Salivarius agar plate, at the beginning and at the end of the study period. Inter group and intra group comparisons were done. Intra group comparisison was assessed using Wilcoxon signed rank test (non-parametric equivalent to paired‘t’ test) whereas the difference between three groups was assessed using Kruskal-Wallis Annova. Results: In the present study, no statistically significant difference was found between the three mouthwashes with regard to their efficacy in reducing Smutans. Conclusion – All the three commercial available mouthwashes are equally potent in reducing s mutans counts effectively.