(1) Background: Antimicrobial agents such as chlorhexidine (CHX) are commonly used in oral plaque control. However, sometimes those agents lack antimicrobial efficiency or cause undesired side effects. To identify alternative anti-infective agents, the present study investigated the antibacterial activity of all-fruit juices derived from blackcurrant, redcurrant, cranberry and raspberry on common oral pathogenic gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus sobrinus, Actinomyces naeslundii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Enterococcus faecalis). (2) Methods: Antibacterial efficiency was evaluated by agar diffusion assay and in direct contact with bacteria in planktonic culture. Furthermore, cytotoxicity on human gingival fibroblasts was determined. (3) Results: Blackcurrant juice was most efficient at suppressing bacteria; followed by the activity of redcurrant and cranberry juice. Raspberry juice only suppressed P. gingivalis significantly. Only high-concentrated blackcurrant juice showed minimal cytotoxic effects which were significantly less compared to the action of CHX. (4) Conclusion: Extracts from natural berry juices might be used for safe and efficient suppression of oral pathogenic bacterial species.

Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is rather unsusceptible to many root canal disinfections which often cause a therapeutic problem. Therefore, the present in vitro study observed the efficiency of different endodontic antiseptics in their capability to suppress E. faecalis, especially inside dentinal tubules. Prior to any testing, root canals of extracted third human molars were inoculated with E. faecalis for 48 h. Antiseptic dressings with chloramine-T or calcium hydroxide (CaOH) for 24 h or irrigations with 1.3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) were applied with n = 10 in each group. As control irrigation with normal saline was used. All treated canals were manually enlarged from size ISO 50 to 110 and the ablated dentin debris was subjected to microbial culture analysis. Bacterial colonization of the dentinal tubules up to 300 µm was verified by scanning electron microscopy and histological sample preparation. Application of crystalline chloramine-T caused total bacterial suppression inside the dentinal tubules. Dressings with CaOH showed only minor effects. Irrigation with NaOCl caused total eradication of bacteria adhering to the root canal walls, but also failed to completely suppress E. faecalis inside the dentinal tubules. The study showed that chloramine-T is of strong antiseptic activity and also efficient in suppressing E. faecalis inside dentinal tubules.

(1) Background: Decalcified enamel and dentin surfaces can be regenerated with non-fluoride-containing biomimetic systems. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a zinc carbonate-hydroxyapatite-containing dentifrice on artificially demineralized enamel and dentin surfaces. (2) Methods: Human enamel and dentin discs were prepared and subjected to surface demineralization with 30% orthophosphoric acid for 60 s. Subsequently, in the test group (n = 20), the discs were treated three times a day for 3 min with a zinc carbonate-hydroxyapatite-containing toothpaste (biorepair^®). Afterwards, all samples were gently rinsed with PBS (5 s) and stored in artificial saliva until next use. Samples from the control group (n = 20) received no dentifrice-treatment and were stored in artificial saliva, exclusively. After 15 days of daily treatment, specimens were subjected to Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray micro-analysis (EDX), white-light interferometry, and profilometry. (3) Results: Raman spectroscopy and white-light interferometry revealed no significant differences compared to the untreated controls. EDX analysis showed calcium phosphate and silicon dioxide precipitations on treated dentin samples. In addition, treated dentin surfaces showed significant reduced roughness values. (4) Conclusions: Treatment with biorepair^® did not affect enamel surfaces as proposed. Minor mineral precipitation and a reduction in surface roughness were detected among dentin surfaces only.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the toothpaste Tooth Mousse compared to conventional fluoride-based versions in the prevention of enamel and dentin demineralization. Human enamel and dentin samples (n = 120 each) were exposed to artificial demineralization at pH 4.92. During the demineralization process, the samples in the test groups were periodically treated with Tooth Mousse (TM) containing casein-phosphopeptide -amorphous-calcium-phosphate (CPP-ACP) and Tooth Mousse Plus (TMP) containing amorphous-calcium-fluoride-phosphate (CPP-ACPF) to evaluate their protective properties. Fluoride toothpastes containing 1400 ppm amine fluoride (AmF) and 1450 ppm sodium fluoride (NaF) were applied in the positive control groups. Treatment with distilled water (group C-W) or demineralization without treatment (group C-D) served as negative controls. After the demineralization and treatment process, all samples were cut longitudinally and lesion depths were determined at six locations using polarized light microscopy. In TM/TMP groups (enamel: 80/86 µm, dentin: 153/156 µm) lesion depths were significantly smaller compared to the negative control groups C-W/C-D (enamel: 99/111 µm, dentin: 163/166 µm). However, TM and TMP compared to the positive controls AmF/NaF (enamel: 58/63 µm, dentin: 87/109 µm) showed higher lesion depths. The application of TM/TMP (89%/78%) during demineralization led to a reduced number of severe lesions compared to the negative controls C-W/C-D (100%/95%). In this study we demonstrate that Tooth Mousse is less effective regarding prevention of enamel and dentin demineralization compared to fluoride containing toothpastes.