The growth of bacteria on stainless steel wires was used as a model to investigate which properties of SnF2 produced anti-bacterial effects against S. mutans. Wire-adherent bacteria were exposed for one min, twice a day, to various fluoride or control compounds having similar ions, pH, valence, or atomic weights. After two days, the thickness of adherent bacteria was scored visually, and the decrease in pH of the growth medium was determined. Bacteria from each wire were then dried, weighed, and analyzed for metal content. Electron microscopy and electron microprobe were used to identify the location of heavy metal deposits in the bacteria.
Only SnF2 dramatically altered S. mutans growth and metabolism, and this anti-bacterial effect was associated with a large uptake of tin into the bacterial cells. The fluoride salts of sodium, lead, zinc, and copper had little influence on S. mutans growth in this test system. The pH of the various fluoride salts or controls generally had no effect on the activity of the test compounds, except for the noted inactivation of SnF2 at elevated pH's. Since SnF4 did not alter the growth or metabolism of S. mutans, a unique property of SnF2 - possibly the reactivity in an aqueous environment - may be responsible for its anti-bacterial properties.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Andres, C.F.; Shaffer, J.C.; and Windeler, A.S.: Comparison of the Antibacterial Properties of Stannous Fluoride and Sodium Fluoride Monthwashes, J Dent Res53:457-460, 1974.
2.
Attramadal, A. and Svatun, B.: Uptake and Retention of Tin by S. mutans, Acta Odontol Scand38:349-354, 1980.
3.
Babcock, F.D.; King, J.C.; and Jordan, T.H.: The Reaction of Stannous Fluoride and Hydroxyapatite, J Dent Res57:933-938, 1978.
4.
Bates, D.G. and Navia, J.M.: Chemotherapeutic Effect of Zinc on Streptococcus mutans and Rat Dental Caries , Arch Oral Biol24:799-805,1979.
5.
Beveridge, T.J. and Murray, R.G.E.: Uptake and Retention of Metals by Cell Walls of Bacillus subtitis , J Bacteriol127: 1502-1518,1976.
6.
Bibby, B.G. and Van Kesteren, M. : The Effect of Fluorine on Mouth Bacteria, J Dent Res19:391-410, 1940.
7.
Christian, G.D. and Feldman, F.J.: Silicon, Germanium, Tin, Lead. In: Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy , Christian, G.D. and Feldman, F.J., Eds., New York, NY: Wiley-Interscience, 1970 , pp. 401-415.
8.
Compton, F.H. and Beagrie, G.S.: Inhibitory Effects of Benzethonium and Zinc Chloride Mouthrinses on Human Dental and Gingivitis, J Clin Periodont2:33-43, 1975.
9.
Eisenberg, A.D. and Marquis, R.E.: Enhanced Transmembrane Proton Conductance in Streptococcus mutans GS-5 due to Ionophores and Fluoride, Antimicrob Agents Chemother19: 807-812,1981.
10.
Goyer, R.A.; May, P.; Cates, M.; and Krigman, M.R.: Lead and Protein Content of Isolated Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies from Kidneys of Lead-poisoned Rats, Lab Invest22:245-251, 1970.
11.
Gray, J.A.; Schweizer, H.C.; Rosevear, F.B.; and Broge, R.W.: Electron Microscopic Observations of the Differences in the Effects of Stannous Fluoride and Sodium Fluoride on Dental Enamel, J Dent Res37:638-648, 1958.
12.
Isenberg, H.D.: Dyes, Oxidizing Agents, Metallic Salts and Compounds, Alcohols, Formaldehyde and Beta Propiolactone. In: Selection and Use of Disinfectants in the Health Facilities, Graning, H., Ed., Bethesda, MD: U.S. Public Health Service , 1971, pp. 47-63.
13.
Jordan, J.; Fitzgerald, R.J.; and Bowler, A.: Inhibition of Experimental Caries by Sodium Metabisulfite and its Effect on the Growth and Metabolism of Selected Bacteria, J Dent Res39:116-123,1960.
14.
Maltz, M. and Emilson, C.G.: Susceptibility of Oral Bacteria to Various Fluoride Salts, J Dent Res61:786-790, 1982.
15.
Manning, D.C.: Aspirating Small Volume Samples in Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy , Atomic Absorption News-letter14:99-102, 1975.
16.
McCabe, R.M.; Keyes, P.H.; and Howell, A.: An in vitro Method for Assessing the Plaque Forming Ability of Oral Bacteria , Arch Oral Biol12:1653-1656, 1967 .
17.
Myers, H.M.: A Hypothesis Concerning the Caries-preventive Mechanism of Tin, JADA77:1308-1315, 1968.
18.
Oppermann, R.V. and Johansen, J.R.: The Effect of Fluoride and Non-fluoride Salts of Copper, Silver and Tin on the Acidogenicity of Dental Plaque in vivo, Scand J Dent Res88:476-480, 1980.
19.
Oppermann, R.V.; Rolla, G.; and Johansen, J.R.: Thiol Groups and Reduced Acidogenicity of Dental Plaque in the Presence of Metal Ions in vivo, Scand J Dent Res88:389-396, 1980.
20.
Shern, R.; Swing, K.W.; and Crawford, J.J.: Prevention of Plaque Formation by Organic Fluorides, J Oral Med25:93-97, 1970.
21.
Silverberg, B.A.; Stokes, P.M.; and Ferstenberg, L.B. : Intranuclear Complexes in a Copper-tolerant Green Alga, J Cell Biol69:210-214, 1976.
22.
Simkiss, K.: Biomineralization and Detoxification, Calcif Tissue Res24:199-200, 1977.
23.
Skaar, H.; Ophus, E.; and Gullvag, B.M.: Lead Accumulation within Nuclei of Moss Leaf Cells, Nature241:215-216, 1973.
24.
Skjorland, K.; Gjermo, P.; and Rolla, G.: Effect of Some Polyvalent Cations on Plaque Formation in vivo, Scand J Dent Res86:103-107, 1978.
25.
Spurr, A.R.: A Low-viscosity Epoxy Resin Embedding Medium for Electron Microscopy , J Ultrastruct Res26:31-43, 1969.
26.
Svanberg, M. and Westergren, G.: Effect of SnF2, Administered as Mouthrinses or Topically Applied, on Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and Lactobacilli in Dental Plaque and Saliva , Scand J Dent Res91:123-129, 1983.
27.
Tanzer, J.M.: Essential Dependence of Smooth Surface Caries on, and Augmentation of Fissure Caries by, Sucrose and Streptococcus mutans Infection, Infect Immun25:526-531, 1979.
28.
Tanzer, J.M.; Slee, A.M.; Kamay, B.; and Scheer, E.R.: In vitro Evaluation of Seven Cationic Detergents as Antiplaque Agents , Antimicrob Agents Chemother15:408-414, 1979.
29.
Tinanoff, N.; Brady, J.M.; and Gross, A.: The Effect of NaF and SnF2 Mouthrinses on Bacterial Colonization of Tooth Enamel: TEM and SEM Studies, Caries Res10:415-426, 1976.
30.
Tinanoff, N. and Camosci, D.A.: Microbiological, Ultrastructural and Spectroscopic Analyses of the Anti-tooth-plaque Properties of Fluoride Compounds in vitro, Arch Oral Biol25: 531-543, 1980.
31.
Tinanoff, N.; Klock, B.; Camosci, D.A.; and Manwell, M.A.: Microbiologic Effects of SnF2 and NaF Mouthrinses in Subjects with High Caries Activity: Results after One Year, J Dent Res62:907-911, 1983.
32.
Tinanoff, N.; Tanzer, J.M.; and Freedman, M.L.: In vitro Colonization of Streptococcus mutans on Enamel, Infect Immun21:1010-1019, 1978.
33.
Tornabene, T.G. and Edwards, H.: Microbial Uptake of Lead, Science176:1334-1355, 1972.
34.
Trachman, H.L.; Tyberg, A.J.; and Branigan, P.D.: Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Determination of Sub-part-per Million Quantities of Tin in Extracts and Biological Materials with a Graphite Furnace , Analyt Chem49:1090-1093, 1977 .
35.
Warshawsky, H. and Moore, G.: A Technique for the Fixation and Decalcification of Rat Incisors for Electron Microscopy, J Histochem Cytochem15:542-549, 1967.
36.
Whitford, G.M.; Schuster, G.S.; Pashley, D.H.; and Ven-Kateswarlu, P.: Fluoride Uptake by Streptococcus mutans 6715 , Infect Immun18:660-687, 1977.
