Abstract
Forty strains of bacteria which may be isolated from subgingival plaque were tested for their in vitro susceptibility to several amine fluorides and a commercial formulation (Elmex® gel) containing these compounds. The amine fluorides were active against a wide range of plaque bacteria with gram‐positive strains tending to be more sensitive than gram‐negatives. The minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 45 to 1440 μg/ml with approximately half of the strains being inhibited at a concentration of 130 μg/ml of amine fluoride. The Elmex gel had a bactericidal effect on all of the strains tested and exhibited a rapid killing action at high dilutions. These in vitro findings suggest that amine fluorides may be useful in the treatment or prophylaxis of plaque‐related diseases.