Effect of gels containing stannous fluoride on oral bacteria — an in vitro study

The purposes of this investigation were to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial effect of (1) twelve 0.4 per cent stannous fluoride (SnF₂) commercial products and (2) different concentrations of SnF₂ (range = 0.02 to 3.28 per cent). The antibacterial inhibitory effect of various SnF₂ gels was evaluated as to their effectiveness against oral plaque bacteria including strains of S. mutans, S. sanguis, S. sobrinus, A. viscosus, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and B. intermedius. When twelve different commercial preparations of 0.4 per cent SnF₂ were compared for inhibitory effect on plaque bacteria, several of the SnF₂ preparations were significantly more effective in inhibiting oral bacteria (p < 0.05). With increasing concentration of SnF₂, there was a comparable increase in the inhibitory effect on the oral bacteria tested (r² ranged from 0.867 to 0.996). SnF₂ at a concentration of 0.4 per cent had a similar antibacterial effect to 0.12 per cent chlorhexidine. This in vitro study demonstrated that certain SnF₂ products are highly effective in inhibiting the growth of bacteria often found in plaque, and this inhibitory effect is directly related to the concentration of the SnF₂. 1992 Australian Dental Association