Inhibition and Disruption Properties of Chlorhexidine Gluconate on Single and Multispecies Oral Biofilms

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) is the most common antimicrobial agent used against oral pathogens, however information on its ability to inhibit and disrupt anaerobic single and multispecies bioflms is relatively unknown. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to test the efcacy of CHX for its bioflm inhibi- tion and disruption properties using crystal violet assay. Materials and Methods: Bioflm assays were carried out on single and multispecies of four oral pathogens: Streptococcus mutans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Aggregatibacter acti- nomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Results: Streptococcus mutans, Fusobacterium nucleatum and multi-species bioflm for- mation were inhibited in more than 90% of cases at concentrations of 3-12 mg/L. CHX exhibited strong disruptive activity ( > 65%) on one-day old bioflms of A. actinomycetem- comitans and P. gingivalis. Conclusions: In conclusion, CHX was a high efective bioflm inhibitor on S. mutans, F. nucleatum and multispecies bioflms but had a minimal efect on P. gingivalis and A. acti- nomycetemcomitans. Conversely, CHX showed disruptive properties on late colonizers in single species bioflms but not on early colonizers and multispecies bioflms.