The plaque‐inhibiting capacity of 11 antibacterial compounds

Abstract

The plaque inhibiting effect in vivo of 11 antibacterial agents was compared with their antibacterial activity against salivary bacteria in vitro. The in vivo effect was tested for 4 days in a human model with a supplement of sucrose in the diet. The antibacterial activity of the compounds, which were chosen from different main groups of disinfectants (alcohols, iodophores, dyes, quaternary ammonium bases, amidines, guanidines) were tested in four in vitro systems. No correlation was evident between the in vivo and in vitro effects. Chlorhexidine gluconate and ‐acetate proved most effective in vivo , whereas several other substances equally or more effective against salivary bacteria in vitro , exhibited no effect in vivo. It is concluded that other factors than the antibacterial properties are important in plaque inhibition in vivo.