Novel chromogenic bacteria characterized and their probable treatment options using herbal products and reagents to restrict biofilm formation

Among all oral diseases, teeth infection is a commonly encountered problem in dentistry with teeth blackening commonly seen in kids. One of the major causes of teeth blackening are the chromogenic bacteria which form biofilm in the teeth. So far there is no significant and safe treatment available for teeth blackening. The current study focuses on teeth blackening by chromogenic bacteria and various factors promoting the biofilm formation and its treatment by an alternative herbal approach. Distinct colonies isolated from dental swabs of children with black stained teeth were grown individually on oyster shell to identify the particular isolate responsible for tooth discoloration. The interaction of traditionally known substances like NaCl, glucose, charcoal powder, mustard oil, KMnO4 and H2O2 on the growth of bacterium and biofilm forming ability were studied. Further, the leaf and stem extracts of Achyranthus aspera and Alternanthera sessilis (available locally) on the growth and biofilm formation was also evaluated. Finally, the efficacy of the various agents was determined by the reduced biofilm formation as well as change in the membrane potential of the isolates. From our results we propose a non-toxic approach comprising herbal compounds and household reagents against teeth blackening to improve oral hygiene. (C) 2017 Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice. Published by Elsevier Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.