Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the antibacterial effect of arginine (Arg) in NaF toothpaste. 24-h mono-/3-species biofilm cultures of S. mutans, S. sanguis and S. gordonii inoculated sHA discs were subjected to treatment with toothpaste supernatants prepared as - [1]:2% Arg –NaF (0.147% F), [2]:4% Arg–NaF (0.144% F), [3]:8% Arg – NaF (0.138% F), [4]:NaF (0.15%) and [5]:deionized water. After 24-h incubation, the mono-species biofilms were subjected to viability assay using WST-8, SEM and confocal imaging (CLSM). The 3-species biofilm were quantified for bacterial composition by PCR analysis, SEM, CLSM, and RNA isolation with reverse-transcription PCR analysis. Increasing arginine concentrations in NaF toothpaste had no effect on microbial viability. The mono-/3-species biofilm imaging depicted that the 2% Arg-NaF and 4% Arg-NaF had a biofilm disrupting effect. The 3-species biofilm bacterial composition indicated that the 2% Arg-NaF group maintained an ecological homeostasis by inhibiting S. mutans growth and enriching the growth of S. sanguis and S. gordonii. The 2% Arg-NaF group significantly downregulated the expression of virulent gtfB gene and upregulated the expression of sagP with relative dominance of arcA. Incorporation of 2% arginine in NaF toothpaste might enrich the alkali-producing bacteria and provide enhanced counter mechanisms against cariogenic pathogen when compared to NaF toothpaste.
Highlights
Considering the global burden of untreated dental caries, especially in the high risk population, the alarming need for caries prevention is evident[1]
Albeit the evidence contemplates the prebiotic effect of arginine to counter dental caries; a previous study examining the remineralization potential of arginine in 1100-ppm fluoride toothpaste concluded that 2% arginine in NaF toothpaste significantly increased the remineralization of artificial incipient enamel lesion compared to the control toothpaste containing NaF alone[29]
The presence of peaks in the UV spectra from all test agents suggested that the color change observed during the preparation of dentifrice slurries from control was non-contributory, since none of the characteristic peaks were measured in the visible spectra
Summary
Considering the global burden of untreated dental caries, especially in the high risk population, the alarming need for caries prevention is evident[1]. S. gordonii and S. sanguis metabolize arginine into ornithine, citrulline, ammonia, carbon dioxide and ATP through ADS These oral bacteria which are associated with a biofilm compatible with health utilize the metabolic byproduct (ATP) for their survival; thereby promoting ecological homeostasis[3]. Presence of these bacteria and their metabolites inhibits the growth of cariogenic bacteria due to a non-conducive alkalogenic environment[17]. Albeit the evidence contemplates the prebiotic effect of arginine to counter dental caries; a previous study examining the remineralization potential of arginine in 1100-ppm fluoride toothpaste concluded that 2% arginine in NaF toothpaste significantly increased the remineralization of artificial incipient enamel lesion compared to the control toothpaste containing NaF alone[29]. The null hypothesis in this study was that incorporating arginine in NaF toothpaste does not have an additional antibacterial effect as compared to NaF alone
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