Antimicrobial effect of fluorides on Bacteroides melaninogenicus subspecies and Bacteroides asaccharolyticus

Abstract
Whether the suspected periodontopathogens B. melaninogenicus ssp. melaninogenicus, B. melaninogenicus ssp. intermedius and B. asaccharolyticus are killed by clinically used topical fluorides was studied. The viability of each organism was examined after exposure to 3 fluoride compounds, stannous (SnF2), acidulated phosphate (APF) and neutral sodium (NaF), from 1-8 h. SnF2 was effective at lowest fluoride concentrations with APF next in effectiveness. NaF required the highest concentrations of fluoride to kill test organisms. Longer exposure times were more effective at lower concentrations.