Background: Garlic ( Allium Sativum ) is ubiquitous, small and commonly used spice for processing food. There are many types of garlic and differ in shape, size, color, taste, number of cloves per bulb and storability. Objectives: To determine and compare the antibacterial activity of soft neck and hard neck species of garlic against cariogenic bacteria ( Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus) . Materials and Methods: The well diffusion method was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of garlic against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus . After incubation in an appropriate culture medium, diameter of zone of inhibition was measured to assess the antibacterial efficacy of garlic extract. Chlorhexidine mouthwash (ICPA HEALTH PRODUCTS LTD.) was kept as control group. Results were statistically analyzed using Kruskal Wallis test and independent ’t’ test. Thus, zone of inhibition (in mm) was analyzed using mean of all the readings obtained and the level of significance at <0.05 was considered statistically significant at 5% of level of significance. Results: Maximum zone of inhibition was found with hard neck garlic extract (24mm) followed by soft neck garlic extract (18mm) and Chlorhexidine (17mm) against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus . Conclusion: Action of garlic against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus raises the possibility that it can be used for dental caries and other oral infections possibly.

Background: The COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) pandemic is a major threat to public health affecting the world; it has been identified as originating in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. It is spreading widely and rapidly spread across the globe, causing an outbreak of acute infectious pneumonia. Such global outburst is associated with adverse effects on mental health. Fear, stress, anxiety seem more definitely an outcome of mass quarantine. Methods: Keeping this pandemic situation in mind, existing literature on the COVID-19 crisis relevant to mental health was redeemed via a literature search from PubMed database. Collected published articles were classified according to their overall themes and summarized. Results: Preliminary evidence suggests that symptoms of self-reported stress, anxiety and depression are common psychological impact to the pandemic, and may be associated with disrupted sleep. Regional, state, National-international borders have almost been shut down, economies crashed, and billions of people quarantined or isolated at their own homes and quarantine centers. In this situational frame of covid-19, patients, front-line healthcare professionals, geriatric population with existing psychiatric conditions may be encountering further suffering. Conclusion: COVID-19 will continue to affect mental health and wellbeing intensely; also, mental health serves an important role in battling the epidemic. With the scare of COVID-19 pandemic on the rise, it is time that as psychiatrists should try to integrate the health-care services keeping mental health at prime.

Objectives:The objective of the study is to assess the prevalence of dental caries and periodontal health status among individuals suffering from thyroid dysfunction in Nashik. To compare the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction between males and females.Materials and Methods:The present study is cross-sectional in nature. The study group comprised of randomly selected 100 individuals diagnosed as suffering from thyroid dysfunction and fulfilling eligibility criteria, visiting endocrinology center in Nashik city. Type III clinical examination was used for the assessment of oral health status. Control group was selected from the neighborhood in general population who had matched with the eligibility criteria of the study group. Oral hygiene status was assessed by using the WHO pro forma, 2013. Collected data were compiled into MS-Excel and subjected to statistical analysis using appropriate statistical tests.Results:Severity of dental caries status and periodontal destruction was found more in study group as (P < 0.05). The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction, severity of dental caries status and periodontal destruction was seen more in females as compared to males.Conclusion:Thyroid dysfunction has an impact on general and oral health as well. It is necessary to identify it early so as to prevent further progression of disease and destruction of oral tissues. It is also necessary to modify treatment plan if the patient is diagnosed with thyroid dysfunction to prevent further complications.