Inhibition and Disruption Properties of Chlorhexidine Gluconate on Single and Multispecies Oral Biofilms

Abstract

Background: Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) is the most common antimicrobial agent used against oral pathogens, however information on its ability to inhibit and disrupt anaerobic single and multispecies biofilms is relatively unknown. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of CHX for its biofilm inhibition and disruption properties using crystal violet assay. Materials and Methods:: Biofilm assays were carried out on single and multispecies of four oral pathogens: Streptococcus (S.) mutans, Fusobacterium (F.) nucleatum, Aggregatibacter (A.) actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas (P.) gingivalis. Results: Streptococcus mutans, Fusobacterium nucleatum and multi-species biofilm formation were inhibited in more than 90% of cases at concentrations of 3-12 mg/L. CHX exhibited strong disruptive activity (> 65%) on one-day old biofilms of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis. Conclusions: In conclusion, CHX was a high effective biofilm inhibitor on S. mutans, F. nucleatum and multispecies biofilms but had a minimal effect on P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans. Conversely, CHX showed disruptive properties on late colonizers in single species biofilms but not on early colonizers and multispecies biofilms.