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Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the Total Antioxidant level in saliva of caries patients with and without smoking habit. Methods: A total of 80 individuals were included in the study. Unstimulated saliva was colleced. Samples of smoking and non smoking caries patients showing only Streptococcus mutans growth were analysed for Total Antioxidant level and smokers and nonsmokeres without any caries were considered as control groups. Caries isolates were confirmed as Streptococcus mutans by grams staining and biochemical tests. Total Antioxidant level was determined by spectrophotometric method. Result: Non smokers with caries showed significantly(P <0.0001) higher TAC level to Smokers with caries. Smokers without caries showed significantly (P=0.0005)lower level of antioxidants than nonsmokers without caries. Conclusion: This invasive study shows that smoke adversely effects the Total Antioxidant Level in caries patients.

The E-beam irradiation enhanced the antibiofilm activity of mouth rinses without modifying the cytotoxicity.

Microbial colonization as biofilm is one of the reasons for the emergence of drug resistant strains. In the oral cavity, drug resistant strains limit the efficacy of oral hygiene practices. Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus have been reported as drug resistant bacteria and producing oral biofilms in oral cavity. In this study we demonstrate the efficacy of aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica, Mangifera indica, Piper betel and Pepper nigrum for antibiofilm activity against E. faecalis and S. aureus. The aqueous extracts were obtained by cold percolation method. The antibiofilm activity of plants extract was evaluated at 30, 15 and 7.5 mg/ml concentration. The percentage yield of extract was maximum in P. nigrum. The aqueous extract of A. indica significantly suppressed E. faecalis and S. aureus biofilm at 7.5 mg/ml at p<0.01 and p<0.001 significance level. P. betel significantly (p<0.001) disintegrated the E. faecalis biofilm at 30 mg/ml and S. aureus at 15 mg/ml (p<0.01). P. nigrum disintegrated E. faecalis and S. aureus biofilm significantly (p<0.05 and p<0.001) at 30 and 15 mg/ml respectively. M. indica significantly (p<0.05) suppressed S. aureus biofilm at 30 mg/ml. These results clearly demonstrate the antibiofilm activity of plants extract against oral pathogens.

Background: The persistent pathogenic microorganisms in root canal system even after chemo-mechanical preparations cause endodontic infection and failure of the treatment. Thus the filling material, in addition to its good sealing ability, should offer long term antimicrobial effect and be non-toxic to cells and dentin. Zinc Oxide Eugenol (ZOE) is the most commonly used root canal sealer in endodontics. Electron beam (e-beam) is an ionizing radiation and known to cause physiochemical and biological changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of e-beam irradiation on bioactive properties of ZOE. Methodology: The homogenous mixture of ZOE was prepared as per manufacturer's instructions and discs of 6 mm were prepared by loading the paste into sterile moulds. After complete drying discs were aseptically removed and subjected to e-beam irradiation at doses of 250 Gy, 500 Gy, 750 Gy and 1000 Gy at Microtron Centre, Mangalore University. Antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of both control(non-irradiated) and irradiated sealer against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans were determined by well diffusion method and antibiofilm by O'Toole method, respectively. The cytotoxicity was determined by using MTT assay on human gingival fibroblasts. Results: The antimicrobial effect of ZOE was observed only against S. aureus and C. albicans. The ZOE sealer irradiated at 1000 Gy showed a significantly (P&lt; 0.001) increased antimicrobial effect against S. aureus and C. albicans compared to control ZOE. However, the substantially increased antibiofilm activity against C. albicans was noticed in the ZOE irradiated at 250 Gy. There was no significant (P&gt;0.05) difference in cytotoxicity between control and irradiated ZOE. Conclusion: The e-beam irradiated endodontic sealer ZOE at 1000 Gy and 250 Gy significantly enhanced the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity respectively without changing its biocompatibility.