Effects of Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride in the Diet on Caries in Hamsters

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Abstract
Four randomized groups of weanling golden hamsters were used to evaluate the effects of 0.025% chlorhexidine dihydrochloride (CH) in a cariogenic diet on the development of caries, and to relate changes in caries to changes in the microflora from the oral cavities of the treated animals. Group I, maintained on a cariogenic diet alone, served as a control. The indigenous flora in group II was suppressed for 4 days by the addition of CH to the diet, and then maintained on a cariogenic diet only. Group III was similarly, but also subsequently inoculated intraorally with a streptomycin-resistant mutant of Streptococcus mutans strain 6715. Group IV, in addition to being treated similarly to group III, was then given CH in the diet continuously, starting one week after S. mutans was established in their oral cavities. Microbial changes were evaluated by dentogingival Calgiswab at 1 week intervals. The results showed that: (1) a significant inhibition (47%) of caries was achieved by adding 0.025% CH in the diet for only 4 days; (2) an increase in caries occurred in the animals whose flora was initially suppressed by inoculating with S. mutans 6715, and (3) this increase was significantly retarded by the subsequent continuous incorporation of CH in the diet. These reductions were not accompanied by marked changes in total streptococci, gram negatives or the inoculated S. mutans.

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