Abstract
Background and Aims: Dental plaque as the main etiological factor for caries and periodontal disease is transparent, colorless and not easily visible. Visualized dental plaque can be an aid for patients to develop an efficient system of plaque removal. Several disclosing agents have been developed and applied to clinical and home-care use, yet people are still searching for a natural coloring agent which could be considered safe for long term use. Methods: In this study, various concentrations of Pitaya flesh extract were tested to stain dental plaque taken from 30 volunteers. A disclosing agent of basic-fuchsin already marketed was used as a positive control. The dental plaque specimens were divided into 5 groups and each group was randomly stained either with 0.05 mL of basic fuchsin as a positive control, or 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% Pitaya flesh extract. The specimens were then analyzed using a spectrophotometer. Results: The results showed that Pitaya flesh extract exhibited dental plaque staining ability. The concentration of 75% Pitaya was similar to the staining ability of basic-fuchsin, while 100% was superior to that of basic-fuchsin. Conclusion: Under the limitations of this study, 75% and 100% extract of pitaya flesh exhibited dental plaque staining in vitro as assessed by a spectrophotometer.
Highlights
Dental plaque is the etiological agent for major dental diseases such as caries and periodontal disease
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of using a natural pigment derived from red-fleshed Pitaya fruit extract with different concentrations as a dental plaque disclosing solution
Removal of bacterial dental plaque by the patient is paramount to the maintenance of oral health in order to prevent periodontal diseases and tooth decay
Summary
Dental plaque is the etiological agent for major dental diseases such as caries and periodontal disease. Since dental plaque is transparent, colorless, and not visible, an individual is not generally aware of the amount or the location of dental plaque in his oral cavity. The dental plaque specimens were divided into 5 groups and each group was randomly stained either with 0.05 mL of basic fuchsin as a positive control, or 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% Pitaya flesh extract. Results: The results showed that Pitaya flesh extract exhibited dental plaque staining ability. Conclusion: Under the limitations of this study, 75% and 100% extract of pitaya flesh exhibited dental plaque staining in vitro as assessed by a spectrophotometer.
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