Comparative evaluation of efficacy of sodium fluoride, chlorhexidine and triclosan mouth rinses in reducing the mutans streptococci count in saliva : an in vivo study.

The primary objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of sodium fluoride (0.05%), chlorhexidine (0.12%) and triclosan (0.3%) mouth rinses in reducing the mutans streptococci count in saliva. 60 subjects in the age group of 12 to 14 years were selected from the schools of Mumbai and were equally divided into 4 groups. First 3 groups were test groups and the 4th group was control group. The subjects were instructed to rinse one full marked measure of mouth rinse for 1 minute, twice daily. Salivary samples were collected at baseline and after 2 weeks and cultured on M.S.B.agar. The number of mutans streptococci colonies were counted on agar medium. The results of the study confirmed that chlorhexidine mouth rinses are more efficient in reducing mutans streptococci count in saliva as compared to other mouth rinses.