Effect of Active Plant Agents, Nanoparticles and Radiation on Dental Cariogenic Bacteria

Abstract

Abstract Dental caries is a common infectious disease in humans all over the world. The oral microbiota plays an important role in buccal health and its diseases such as dental caries. The purpose of this study was to prevent the growth of harmful oral microorganisms, especially cariogenic bacteria using safe and effective plant/metal nanoparticles by the help of gamma radiation. In this study, the dental plaque from fifty Egyptian participants representing different ages and both genders of either caries-free or caries-active were cultured on non-selective and selective media for oral Streptococci bacterial species. Microorganisms from non-selective media plates were identified by Gram staining and microscopic examination. While, the other microorganisms from selective media were identified by colony morphology, Gram staining, catalase test, and Remel RapID STR kits. It was noticed that, G+ve Streptococci, G+ve Staphylococci, G+ve Bacilli, Yeast and Actinomycetes showed higher frequencies in caries-active samples than in caries-free samples. Thirty- seven isolates were considered as Streptococci, among these isolates Streptococcus mutans was the dominant species with eighteen isolates.