IN VITRO EVALUATION OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL POTENCY

 The search for potent antimicrobial agent is unending. The use of mouthwashes to improve oral hygiene is being favoured for its presumed antimicrobial activity. This study therefore evaluated the antibacterial activity of common mouthwashes against relevant clinical isolates.  Five mouthwash samples (coded; LIS; COL; TOT; FLU; BRE) bought from major super markets in Ondo State, Nigeria, were examined for antimicrobial activity using agar well diffusion method. The kinetic of activity and MIC determination of the mouthwashes were done by standard methods. All the mouthwashes were registered with the appropriate regulating agent. Three of the mouthwashes were alcohol based. The best activity was against Streptococcus mutans by LIS (19mm). TOT recorded poor activity against all isolates. COL and FLU demonstrated antifungal activity against Candida albicans. LIS has the lowest MIC of 1:8 against Streptococcus mutans. BRE and FLU were able to kill all the Staphylococcus aureus cells by the 12th hour. The mouthwashes exhibited varying degree of antimicrobial activity. Alcohol based mouthwashes demonstrated better antimicrobial activity. It is therefore confirmed in vitro, the beneficial activity of using mouthwashes to improve oral hygiene.