Abstract
Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of some oral dentifrices in the reduction of cariogenic organism levels. Materials and Methods: The volunteers were divided into7 groups; 6 of them labeled with the type of dentifrice they use, plus one negative control. Saliva samples were collected at the baseline, after 2 and 4 weeks of dentifrice application to estimate mutans streptococci and lactobacillus levels. Results: Mutans streptococci level significantly declined after 2 weeks of zac, synsodyne, crest and signal use. In Sanino and amber group the elevated bacterial level remained throughout experi-mental period. The lactobacillus number increased in all groups except in zac there was a continuous decrease throughout the study. Conclusions: Synsodyne and crest toothpastes were the most effective among the tested dentifrices used to adjunct mutans streptococci count but lactobacillus was less af-fected. Only zac rinses were able to control the levels of the two bacterial types.
