Antibacterial Activity of Different Toothpastes and Chewing Sticks on Selected Bacteria Isolated from the Oral Cavity

The present study assessed the antibacterial efficacy of different toothpastes and chewing sticks purchased from a local market in Yenagoa, on selected bacteria isolated from the oral cavity. 100 oral specimens were collected from the primary school pupils of Community Primary School Otuoke, Bayelsa State. The specimens were analyzed by culture, biochemical test and agar well diffusion. Phytochemical and antibacterial properties of ethanol, and aqueous extracts of the chewing sticks were investigated in this study. The bacterial isolates were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans and Serratia marcescens. The highest bacterial isolate seen was E. coli, 27 (45%) while the lowest was Serratia marcescens, 2 (3.3%). The highest occurring bacterial isolates based on sex was seen in females with 32 (53.5%) while the least in male with 28 (46.7%). The age group with the highest bacterial isolate was 3–6years with 36 (60%) while the least was 11–14yaers with 8 (13.3%). Preliminary phytochemical screening of the chewing stick extracts revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids and terpenes in Salvadora persica, and saponins, terpenes and glycosides were present in Massularia acuminata. The toothpastes (Close up and Oral-B) showed antibacterial activity (p<0.05) against all the bacterial isolates; however, no significant activity was observed for Close up on E. coli. The ethanol extracts of both chewing sticks (M. acuminata and S. persica) showed antibacterial activity (p<0.05) against the bacterial isolates than the aqueous extracts. However, the aqueous extracts of S. persica were shown to be effective against E. coli and S. mutans, with inhibition zones of 13.5mm at 62.5mg/ml concentration and 4.5mm at 125mg/ml concentration respectively; this showed significant difference (p<0.05), whereas no significant zone of inhibition was observed for M. acuminata. In comparison, this study showed Oral-B proved more effective than Close up, while for the chewing sticks, S. persica exhibited the greater antibacterial activity. Also, the toothpastes showed more effective antibacterial properties than the chewing sticks.