In vitro antimicrobial effects of natural plant chewing stick extracts of Accacia arabica, Azadirachta indica, Ficus bengalensis, Mangifera indica, Pongamia glabra and Salvadora persica on oral pathogens was conducted to prove scientifically about the epidemiological and clinical beneficial effects of chewing sticks on oral hygine. Oral pathogens isolated from the oral cavities of student community were Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. lactis, Proteus vulgaris and Streptococcus mutans which cause gingivitis (inflammation of gums), periodontitis (inflammation of supporting tissues of teeth) and plaque. The antimicrobial effect of chewing stick extract revealed that S. persica, A. arabica and A. indica are highly effective against oral pathogens whereas F. bengalensis, M. indica and P. glabra are less effective when compared with ethanol, methanol and standard antimicrobial disc used as positive control. The different response of each microbe to the various chewing stick extracts indicated that the natural chewing stick posses different phytochemical compounds which inhibited the growth of oral pathogens.
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