International Journal of Community Dentistry

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2020  |  Volume : 8  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 18--22

A bitter sweet! Effectiveness of chocolates and probiotic chocolates in reduction of streptococcus mutans – An in vitro study


J Balaji1, Parvathy Premnath2, Lakshmi Ravi3, Kanakam Elizabeth Thomas4,  
1 CRRI, Asan Memorial Dental College and Hospital, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Asan Memorial Dental College and Hospital, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India
3 Head of the Department, Department of Orthodontics, Asan Memorial Dental College and Hospital, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India
4 Associate professor, Department of Microbiology, Asan Memorial Dental College and Hospital, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India

Correspondence Address:
Dr. J Balaji
Asan Memorial Dental College and Hospital, Asan Nagar, Oragadam Road, Chengalpattu - 603 105, Tamil Nadu
India

Abstract

Context: Dental caries is the most common type of dental problem known to mankind, and the bacterial species-Streptococcus mutans (S.mutans) is known to initiate it, thus playing a significant role in dental caries formation. Theobromine in dark chocolate and probiotics are known for anticariogenic and antibacterial properties. Aims: The aim of this study is to find the effectiveness of white chocolate, dark chocolate, and probiotic-infused dark chocolate against S. mutans. Subjects and Methods: Blood-infused Mueller–Hinton agar was prepared with three wells. Twenty grams of chocolate were dispersed in each well. Chlorhexidine and saline were used as positive and negative control. The agar plate was then streaked with S. mutans. These prepared culture media was then allowed to incubate at 37°C for a time period of about 24 h under sterile environment. Finally, the diameters of the zone of inhibition were measured using the Hi Antibiotic Zone Scale. ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test were used for statistical. Statistical Analysis Used: ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test were used for statistical. Results: On comparison, probiotic-infused dark chocolate shows the greatest zone of inhibition (16.83 ± 1.329) followed by chlorhexidine (15.18 ± 1.458) which is then followed by dark chocolate (11.33 ± 1.751) and white chocolate (7.17 ± 1.835), and finally normal saline which showed no zone of inhibition. On overall evaluation using ANOVA, the statistically significant difference was found out (P < 0.001). Intergroup comparison was performed using Tukey's post hoc test, whose P < 0.001 thus being statistically significant. Conclusion: Among all the different kinds of chocolates used in the study, probiotic-infused dark chocolate showed the greatest anti-microbial activity against S. mutans.



How to cite this article:
Balaji J, Premnath P, Ravi L, Thomas KE. A bitter sweet! Effectiveness of chocolates and probiotic chocolates in reduction of streptococcus mutans – An in vitro study.Int J Community Dent 2020;8:18-22


How to cite this URL:
Balaji J, Premnath P, Ravi L, Thomas KE. A bitter sweet! Effectiveness of chocolates and probiotic chocolates in reduction of streptococcus mutans – An in vitro study. Int J Community Dent [serial online] 2020 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];8:18-22
Available from: https://www.ijcommdent.com/text.asp?2020/8/2/18/321215


Full Text



 Introduction



Dental caries can be defined as the irreversible destruction of tooth structure by acids as a result of fermentation of the carbohydrates present in the diet by oral bacteria and microbial flora.[1] Dental caries affects the entire human population irrespective of the factors such as age, sex, nationality, and thus presents as the world's most prevalent chronic disease.[2] Furthermore, it is a dynamic process caused by acids which are in turn produced by bacteria, which results demineralization and remineralization of minerals in the teeth. The rate of demineralization is significantly greater than that of the rate of remineralization.[3]

There are more than 103 species of bacteria identified in the oral cavity, and dental plaque serves as the hub for the bacterial species to thrive. It lodges approximately 4 × 1010 organisms with more than 400 species to it.[4] Dental plaque serves as the precursor for dental caries. Among all the species, S. mutans is known to initiate dental plaque formation, and it can thrive at a low pH level.[5] S. mutans initiates the metabolism of simple carbohydrates to produce acids, which cascades and eventually leads to the formation of dental caries.[4] In addition, it can synthesize a water-insoluble and adherent glucan from sucrose by the action of enzyme glucosyltransferase. This accumulated adherent glucan aids in the adhesion of other bacteria and acids thus forming the dental plaque.[6]

On the other hand, there is a common misconception that chocolates are the one responsible for dental caries formation. The carbohydrate present in the chocolate is the one which actually causes dental caries. Although dental caries formation is a multifactorial process, carbohydrate is undoubtedly an important factor.[7]

Moreover, chocolate has various chemicals such as xanthine, caffeine, theobromine, phenolic, and mainly fats and sugars which constitute 30% of the normal chocolates. However, 99% of dark chocolate (the one used in the study) has only 1% of fats and sugars.

Chocolate, whose primary ingredient is cocoa, has various health benefits.[8] Theobromine (3, 7–dimethyl xanthine) present in cocoa has anticariogenic properties.[9] Theobromine is an alkaloid compound which enhances enamel microhardness.[10] The presence of theobromine during the development of teeth aids in the formation of large hydroxyapatite crystals, which contribute to the primary structure of the teeth (mineral/inorganic component), thus decreasing the loss of calcium and phosphorous ions from the enamel surface.[9] Moreover, it also aids in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity.[11] The enamel hardness obtained as a result of theobromine is nearly as effective as fluoride.[12] The antimicrobial property of the cocoa is ascribed to the concentration of cocoa content within it; cocoa is rich in catechins which are polyphenols of the flavanol group which bestows the anti-bacterial property. Thus, dark chocolate shows the greatest anti-microbial activity against the S. mutans species.[9] It is undoubtedly clear that theobromine by itself has anti-bacterial property.[13]

Probiotics are living microbes of various proportions which, when on administration provides various health benefits on the host.[14] When ingested daily, it shows decrease in the level of S. mutans count in the oral cavity.[15]

Probiotic containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species infused chocolate show significant inhibitory action against the growth of S. mutans.[1] Thus, it is clear that cocoa and the probiotic has anti-cariogenic property to it,[1] and S. mutans serves as the initiating factor for the dental caries formation.[6] However, there is a lack of literature stating the comparison of chocolate infused probiotics as an antimicrobial agent. Thus, the aim of the study is to find the effectiveness of the probiotic-infused dark chocolate against S. mutans. The null hypothesis of the study is that the probiotic-infused dark chocolate does not have any effect on S. mutans.

 Subjects and Methods



The current study was conducted in the Department of Public Health Dentistry, in a private institute at Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu. Ethical approval taken from the institutional review board before the study was conducted. Three types of commercially available chocolates were used in the study.

Group I: White chocolate [Figure 1]Group II: Dark chocolate [Figure 2]Group III: Probiotic-infused dark chocolate [Figure 3]Group IV: Chlorhexidine (control) [Figure 4].{Figure 1}{Figure 2}{Figure 3}{Figure 4}

Preparation of the probiotic-infused dark chocolate

The chocolates (10 gm) were melted in a glass bowl using the double boiling technique at 43°C–45°C, which was then tempered at 43°C for 10 min. The Bifilac sachet was then added and mixed homogenously to the dark chocolate, and thus, the probiotic-infused dark chocolate was prepared [Figure 5].{Figure 5}

Preparation of the culture media

The procedure was done in the Department of Microbiology, in a private institute at Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu. S. mutans was obtained from the patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, using the swab collection procedure. Blood-infused Mueller–Hinton agar was selected as the culture media for the study. The Petri dish containing blood-infused Mueller– Hinton agar was prepared with three wells (4 mm in diameter and 3 mm deep) using a sterile cone back. Using a sterile micropipette, 0.02 ml of white chocolate was dispersed into the first well, 0.02 ml of dark chocolate was dispersed into the second well, and 0.02 ml of probiotic-infused dark chocolate was dispersed into the third well, respectively. Chlorhexidine (0.2%) was used as positive control which was prepared and let for observation in a separate culture media.

These prepared culture media was then allowed to incubate at 37°C for 24 h under sterile environment to ensure uniform distribution of the respective chocolate groups around the wells into blood-infused Mueller–Hinton agar. This serves as quality control. The agar plates were then lawn cultured with S. mutans. The Petri dishes were then once again allowed to incubate at 37°C for 24 h. The petri dishes were then observed for zones of inhibition. Diameters of the zone of inhibition were measured using the Hi Antibiotic Zone Scale. Saline was used as a negative control in this study to ensure the contamination-free environment during the experiment.

Furthermore, the test was repeated six times to overcome any technical errors that might have occurred during a single attempt. The results were collected and tabulated in the excel sheet and statistical analysis was then performed using SPSS (version 25) software, manufactured by IBM, Chicago, USA. ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test were performed to analyze and conclude the results.

 Results



[Table 1] shows the mean zone of inhibition values (mm) between different groups against S. mutans. Diameters of the zone of inhibition were measured using Hi Antibiotic Zone Scale and were recorded in an excel sheet and statistical analysis was then performed using SPSS (version 25) software. On overall evaluation using ANOVA, the statistically significant difference was found out (P < 0.001).{Table 1}

On comparison, probiotic-infused dark chocolate shows the greatest zone of inhibition (16.83 ± 1.329) followed by chlorhexidine (15.18 ± 1.458) which is then followed by dark chocolate (11.33 ± 1.751) and white chocolate (7.17 ± 1.835), and finally, normal saline which showed no zone of inhibition [Figure 6] and [Figure 7].{Figure 6}{Figure 7}

[Table 2] shows the multiple comparisons between different chocolate groups against S. mutans. On intergroup comparison of antimicrobial effect with probiotic-infused dark chocolate and white chocolate using Tukey's post hoc test P value was <0.05 and thus the result indicate the difference in antimicrobial efficacy of both the groups and the difference was statistically significant.{Table 2}

 Discussion



Dental caries is considered to be one of the world's most well-known and prevailing bacterial diseases which is known to have caused by many bacterial species and mainly spearheaded by S. mutans which primarily resides on oral cavity, pharynx, and intestine.[16] Among several species, S. mutans is considered to be the most common initiator that produces acids from carbohydrates and causes demineralization of the enamel surface.[17],[18] S. mutans plays a significant role in the etiology of dental caries formation.[19]

Dark chocolate is preferentially chosen over other chocolates for comparison, as it has the highest content of theobromine when compared to other chocolate groups. A single sachet of Bifilac (0.5 mg) contains Lactobacillus sporogenes (50 million), S. fecalis (30 million), Clostridium butyricum (2 million), and Bacillus mesentericus (1 million), respectively. Probiotics have proven to bestow many health benefits and have potential antimicrobial action against various bacterial species.[14]

In the study conducted by Malarvizhi Dakshinamoorthy et al.,[20] it was proven that Bifidobacterium Longum-infused probiotic dark chocolate showed the greatest zone of inhibition when compared to his other comparative study groups. This result obtained from the study coincides with that of the result shown in our study that is– probiotic-infused dark chocolate shows the greatest zone of inhibition when compared to other groups.

According to Khanafari et al.[21] probiotic chocolate containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus PTCC 1637 had a significant effect on S. mutans strains in the culture media with a 75 mm of the inhibitory zone, all the three chocolate groups used in the study successfully showed the zone of inhibition. However, probiotic-infused dark chocolate showed the greatest zone of inhibition, this is similar to the results of our study.

However, the limitations of the study include being an in vitro study it has to be proven effective on a larger scale and more clinical trials ought to be conducted to substantiate the results. Second, the chocolates used in the study still have sugar (carbohydrates) as sweetening agents which can be substituted by artificial sweetening agents.

 Conclusion



Among all the different kinds of chocolates used in the study, probiotic infused dark chocolate showed the greatest anti-microbial activity against Streptococcus mutans.

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