An in vitro investigation of the antimicrobial activity of an herbal mouthrinse

The purpose of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of on e prescription and two commercially available over-the-counter mouthrinses and positive and negative controls against bacteria commonly found in the o ral cavity. The bacteria used in this study were Streptococcus mutans, , st reptococcus sanguis and Actinomyces viscosus. Sterile discs which were trea ted with the mouthrinses were placed on agar plates along with the controls . Zones of microbial inhibition were measured in millimeters after 48 hours . The results indicated that all of the mouthrinses demonstrated antimicrob ial activity against the bacteria tested. Herbal Mouth and Gum Therapy(R) m outhrinse, containing natural ingredients, produced the largest zones of mi crobial inhibition when compared to Listerine(R) against all three of the b acteria tested. Herbal Mouth and Gum Therapy mouthrinse produced larger zon es of microbial inhibition when compared to Peridex(R) against two of the t hree bacteria tested, and produced similar zones of inhibition against the third bacteria.