1Senior lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital, Pune
2Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Y.M.T Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai
3Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Srinivas Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore
4Reader, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Srinivas Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore
Dental caries is one of the widespread diseases affecting mankind. Several attempts have been made to eliminate the organisms responsible for causing caries. Tea and coffee, most consumed beverages in india have been shown in literature to possess anticariogenic potential in addition to elevating mood and relaxing oneself. Daily researchers debate about the benefits and illeffects of these beverages. The present study was carried out to evaluate the anticariogenic potential of coffee and tea polyphenols via an antimicrobial mode of action. The test organisms used were pure cultures of Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Candida albicans.
To determine, evaluate and compare the anti microbial efficacy of extracts of tea and coffee against common cariogenic microbes like Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Candida albicans.
The antimicrobial activity of aqueous decoction of tea and coffee was tested against common cariogenic oral pathogens by observing the zones of inhibitions using a standard susceptibility agar dilution technique (National Committee of Clinical Laboratory Standards, 1993).
Both tea and coffee extracts showed antimicrobial and anti-fungal effects on the tested microorganisms. Zones of inhibitions produced by tea extracts were produced at lower concentrations as compared to that of coffee.
Although the results of the present study reveal the antimicrobial activity of tea and coffee extracts, further studies should be conducted to assess the role of added sugars in the beverages consumed along with these beverages, milk (lactose) added, synergistic and antagonistic effects of different other plant polyphenols on the anticariogenic potential.
Aqueous Decoction, Coffee, Tea Extracts, Cariogenic Microbes
