P29 The effects of essential oils on periodontopathic bacteria and oral halitosis

Abstract

Oral halitosis has been associated with periodontal disease. Hydrogen sulphide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulphide are the major components of halitosis originating in the oral cavity. These compounds are mainly produced by periodontopathic bacteria in the oral cavity. In the absence of the bacteria, the odoriferous compounds are not generated. We have demonstrated the antibacterial effects of essential oils on the periodontopathic bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Fusobacterium nucleatum. As essential oils, manuka oil, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, lavandula oil, and romarinus oil were used, and their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined. The essential oils inhibited the growth of the bacteria tested, and manuka oil did so most effectively. MBC values showed that lavandula oil acted bacteriostatically, and the remaining oils bactericidally. Bacterial strains tested were killed completely by exposure for 30 s to 0.2% manuka oil, tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil. This study showed that among the essential oils tested, tea tree oil and manuka oil, particularly the latter, had strong antibacterial activity against periodontal disease associated bacteria. In the present study, we investigated the clinical effects of essential oils in the treatment of oral halitosis. When the degree of halitosis before and after the treatment was evaluated, the essential oils demonstrated efficacy in reducing the level of the three major components of halitosis. From the data of the present study, we consider that essential oils can be used in oral health management. This study was supported by grant from Kanpou Science Foundation.