Effects of Bamboo Salt with Sodium Fluoride on the Prevention of Dental Caries

Background: Dental caries is one of several prevalent oral diseases caused by dental plaque biofilms. This study evaluated the anti-cariogenic effects of a bamboo salt (BS) and sodium fluoride (NaF) mixture on oral bacteria. Methods: The effects of several mixtures of NaF and BS on acid production, growth, and adhesion to glass beads of Streptococcus mutans, and their anti-cariogenic properties were investigated. The growth of S. mutans was measured according to optical density at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 hours after treatment using spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 600 nm, while pH was measured using a pH meter. Adhesion of S. mutans was measured according to the weight of glass beads from each group before and after incubation. Gene expression was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Acid production and growth patterns of S. mutans were compared using repeated measures analysis of variance, followed by Scheffe's post-hoc test. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare adhesion, followed by the Mann-Whitney test. Gene expression in the experimental and control samples was compared using the Student's t-test. Results: Growth, acid production, and adhesion of S. mutans were inhibited in all experimental groups. Expression of gft and fructosyltransferase in S. mutans was inhibited in all groups. A mixture of NaF and BS significantly reduced growth, acid production, adhesion, and gene expression of S. mutans compared with the other groups.