We assessed the in vivo effects of zinc and chlorhexidine (CH) on plaque ureolysis and glycolysis in five volunteers. We monitored plaque pH by a surface glass electrode on two teeth in each subject, after topical application of either 5% wt/vol urea or 5% wtlvol glucose solutions. The recordings were repeated 15 and 75 min after a single mouthrinse, with either 20 mmol/L zinc acetate or 0.33 mmol/L CH diacetate.
Ureolytic activity decreased significantly (p<0.03) up to 75 min after a single mouthrinse with the zinc-containing test solution. CH had no effect on plaque ureolytic activity. Acid production by dental plaque decreased significantly (p < 0. 01) up to 75 min after a single mouthrinse with either the zinc- or the CH-containing test solution.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Afseth, J. (1983): Some Aspects of the Dynamics of Cu and Zn Retained in Plaque as Related to their Effect on Plaque pH, Scand J Dent Res91:169-174.
2.
Afseth, J.; Helgeland, K.; and Bonesvoll, P. (1983): Retention of Cu and Zn in the Oral Cavity Following Rinsing with Aqueous Solutions of Copper and Zinc Salts, Scand J Dent Res91:42-45.
3.
Bonesvoll, P. and Olsen, I. (1974): Influence of Teeth, Plaque and Dentures on the Retention of Chlorhexidine in the Human Oral Cavity, J Clin Periodontol1 :214-221.
4.
Carlsson, J. (1970a): Chemically Defined Medium for Growth of Streptococcus sanguis, Caries Res4:297-304.
5.
Carlsson, J. (1970b): Nutritional Requirements of Streptococcus mutans , Caries Res4:305-320.
6.
Carlsson, J. (1971): Nutritional Requirements of Streptococcus salivaricts , J Gen Microbiol67:69-76.
7.
Frostell, G. (1960): Studies on the Ammonia Production and the Ureolytic Activity of Dental Plaque Material, Acta Odontol Scand18:29-65.
8.
Gallagher, I.H.C.; Pearce, E.I.F.; and Hancock, E.M. (1984): The Ureolytic Microflora of Immature Dental Plaque Before and After Rinsing with a Urea-based Mineralizing Solution, J Dent Res63:1037-1039.
9.
Hill, A.B. (1961): Principles of Medical Statistics, London: The Lancet Ltd., pp. 143-151.
10.
Keevil, C.W.; Marsh, P.D.; and Ellwood, D.C. (1984): Regulation of Glucose Metabolism in Oral Streptococci through Independent Pathways of Glucose 6-phosphate and Glucose 1-phosphate Formation, J Bacteriol157:560-567.
11.
Kleinberg, I. (1967): Effect of Urea Concentration on Human Plaque pH Levels in situ, Arch Oral Biol12:1475-1484.
12.
Klotz, I.M. (1954): Thermodynamic and Molecular Properties of some Metal-protein Complexes. In: The Mechanism of Enzyme Action , W.D. McElroy and B. Glass, Eds., Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, pp. 257-285.
13.
Löe, H. and Schiott, C.R. (1970): The Effect of Suppression of the Oral Microflora upon the Development of Dental Plaque and Gingivitis. In: Dental Plaque, W.D. McHugh , Ed., Edinburgh: E. & S. Livingstone, pp. 247-256.
14.
Luoma, H. (1972): The Effects of Chlorhexidine and Fluoride Combinations on the Potassium, Sodium and Phosphorus Content and Acid Production of Cariogenic Streptococci, Arch Oral Biol17:1431-1437.
15.
Marsh, P.D.; Keevil, C.W.; McDermid, A.S.; William-Son, M.L.; and Ellwood, D.C. (1983): Inhibition by the Antimicrobial Agent Chlorhexidine of Acid Production and Sugar Transport in Streptococcal Bacteria, Arch Oral Biol28:233-240.
16.
Maryanski, J.H. and Wittenberger, C.L. (1975): Mannitol Transport in Streptococcus mutans, J Baeteriol124:1475-1481.
17.
Oppermann, R.V. (1979): Effect of Chlorhexidine on Acidogenicity of Dental Plaque in vivo, Scand J Dent Res87:302-308.
18.
Oppermann, R.V. and Rölla, G. (1980): Effect of Some Polyvalent Cations on the Acidogenicity of Dental Plaque in vivo, Caries Res14:422-427.
19.
Oppermann, R.V.; Rolla, G.; Johansen, J.R.; and Assev, S. (1980): Thiol Groups and Reduced Acidogenicity of Dental Plaque in the Presence of Metal Ions in vivo, Scand J Dent Res88:389-396.
20.
Schachtele, C.F. (1975): Glucose Transport in Streptococcus mutans: Preparation of Cytoplasmic Membranes and Characteristics of Phosphotransferase Activity , J Dent Res54:330-338.
21.
Scheie, A.Aa.; Assev, S.; and Rolla, G. (1988): Combined Effect of Xylitol, NaF and ZnCl2 on Growth and Metabolism of Streptococcus ,sobrinus OMZ 176, APMIS96:761-767.
22.
Shaw, W.H.R. (1954): The Inhibition of Urease by Various Metal Ions , JAm Chem Soc76:2160-2163.
23.
Singer, D.L. and Kleinberg, I. (1983): Quantitative Assessment of Urea, Glucose and Ammonia Changes in Human Dental Plaque and Saliva Following Rinsing with Urea and Glucose, Arch Oral Biol28:932-929.
24.
Sissons, C.H.; Cutress, T.W.; and Pearce, E.I.F. (1985): Kinetics and Product Stoichiometry of Ureolysis by Human Salivary Bacteria and Artificial Mouth Plaques, Arch Oral Biol30 :781-790.
25.
Skjorland, K.; Gjermo, P.; and Rölla, G. (1978): Effect of some Polyvalent Cations on Plaque Formation in vivo, Scand J Dent Res86:103-107.
26.
Stephan, R.M. (1940): Changes in Hydrogen-ion Concentration on Tooth Surfaces and in Carious Lesions, J Am Dent Assoc27 :718-723.
27.
Stephan, R.M. (1943): The Effect of Urea in Counteracting the Influence of Carbohydrates on the pH of Dental Plaques, J Dent Res22:63-71.
28.
Wijeyeweera, R.L. and Kleinberg, I. (1989): Arginolytic and Ureolytic Activities of Pure Cultures of Human Oral Bacteria and their Effects on the pH Response of Salivary Sediment and Dental Plaque in vitro, Arch Oral Biol34:43-53.
