COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECTS OF HYDROGEN WATER AND CHLORHEXIDINE MOUTHWASH ON PORPHYROMONAS GINGIVALIS AND FUSOBACTERIUM NUCLEATUM: AN IN – VITRO MICROBIOLOGICAL STUDY

Dr. Simran Kaur Makhija*, Dr. Padmaja Patil, Dr. Janak Kapadia, Dr. Surkeha Bhedasgaonkar4, Dr. Ravikumar Jirali5 and Dr. Harsha Waswade6

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of supporting tissues of teeth initiated by microorganisms resulting in progressive destruction of tissues and eventual loss of tooth. The use of chemical agents such as chlorhexidine to combat microbial load in oral cavity is proven to be gold standard but duration of action of such agents is short lived and cannot be used lifelong. Therefore, use of natural agents such as “hydrogen water” which can be consumed on daily basis and also have antibacterial effects on oral bacteria is desirable. Objective: To compare the antibacterial effect of hydrogen water and chlorhexidine mouthwash on P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum. Methodology: In this in – vitro study, antibacterial effect of hydrogen water will be tested on P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum cultures by using disc diffusion method and compared with chlorhexidine mouthwash and saline. After incubation colony forming units of respective pathogens will be measured and compared. Result: The antimicrobial activity of 100% hydrogen water against P. gingivalis showed statistically insignificant difference (p > 0.05) when compared to 0.2% Chlorhexidine mouthwash. While against F. nucleatum a statistically significant difference (p <0.05) was seen. Conclusion: Though 0.2% Chlorhexidine remains the gold standard, 100% hydrogen water also has an almost equivalent antimicrobial activity against P.gingivalis and F. nucleatum. However, when 100% hydrogen water is diluted the antimicrobial activity decreases and becomes negligible beyond 50% hydrogen water.

Keywords: Hydrogen water, 0.2% Chlorhexidine mouthwash, antimicrobial activity, P.gingivalis, F. nucleatum.