• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1001-1013
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• 2020

The formation of biofilms on the enamel surface of teeth by Streptococcus mutans is an important step in dental plaque formation, demineralization, and early caries because the biofilm is where other bacteria involved in dental caries attach, grow, and proliferate. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of phosvitin (PSV) on the biofilm formation, exopolysaccharides (EPS) production, adherence activity of S. mutans, and the expression of genes related to the compounds essential for biofilm formation (quorum-sensing inducers and components of biofilm matrix) by S. mutans. PSV significantly reduced the biofilm-forming activity of S. mutans and increased the degradation of preformed biofilms by S. mutans. PSV inhibited the adherence activity of S. mutans by 31.9%-33.6%, and the production of EPS by 62%-65% depending upon the strains and the amount of PSV added. The expressions of genes regulating the production of EPS and the quorum-sensing-inducers (gtfA, gtfD, ftf, relA, vicR, brpA, and comDE) in all S. mutans strains were down-regulated by PSV, but gtfB was down-regulated only in S. mutans KCTC 5316. Therefore, the anti-biofilm-forming activity of PSV was accomplished through the inhibition of biofilm formation, adherence activity, and the production of quorum-sensing inducers and EPS by S. mutans.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to find out the effect of dentifrice containing Horseradish (Armoracia rustica) root extracts on improvement of oral hygiene. The clinical evaluation was done participated by 80 adults volunteers who provided a informed consent for their participation. The participants were divided into two groups ; control group (using toothpaste without Horseradish extracts) and experimental group (using toothpaste containing Horseradish extracts). The checklist of the experiment includes the plaque index, gingival index and anti-caries activity. The anti-caries activity was measured by cultivating Streptococcus mutans for 48 hours then estimating the number of increased bacteria using Dentocult SM. The double-blind method was used in this study. The results of this study can be summarized as follows; 1. The plaque formation decreased 28% in control group, 58% in experimental group using dentifrice with Horseradish extracts compared to baseline data. 2. For gingival index, control group and experimental group showed 26% and 40% decrease compared to baseline data, respectively. 3. The score of caries activity test decreased by 4% for control group and 69% for experimental group compared to baseline data. According to the results, a dentifrice containing Horseradish extracts can improve oral hygiene.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.854-858
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• 2010

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) plays an important role in the information of dental plaque and it is being noticed as major causative bacteria of dental caries. In the present study, inhibitory effects of the ethanol extract of Dianthus superbus Linne (D. superbus) on the growth, acid production, adhesion and water-insoluble glucan synthesis of S. mutans were examined. The ethanol extract of D. superbus (0.5 - 4 mg/ml) significantly lowered the growth of S. mutans in a dose dependent manner. The acid production of S. mutans were inhibited by the presence of ethanol extract of D. superbus(1 - 4 mg/ml) significantly. The ethanol extract of D. superbus (0.25 - 4 mg/ml) also significantly lowered the adherence of S. mutans in a dose dependent manner. In water-insoluble glucan synthesis assay, 0.25 - 4 mg/ml of the ethanol extract of D. superbus significantly inhibited the formation of water-insoluble glucan. These results suggest that D. superbus may inhibit the caries-inducing properties of S. mutans. Further studies are necessary to clarify the active constituents of D. superbus responsible for such biomolecular activities.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.617-621
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• 1977

In order to comparatively observe the salivary cariogenic factors contributing to permanent tooth caries development in each sexes of Korean, the author performed estimation of unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates, salivary viscosity test, and salivary buffering capacity test in 50 males and 50 females Koreans aged form the age 20 to 29. Thereafter, the data from the four kinds of caries activity test were analysed and evaluated comparatively. The obtained results were as follows. 1. Unstimulated salivary flow rate for five minutes was 2.2ml in males and 1.7ml in females but the sexual difference was not significant statistically. 2. Stimulated salivary flow rate for five minutes was 7.1ml in males and 4.8ml in females. 3. Salivary viscosity was 1.9 in males and 1.7 in females but the sexual diffrence was not significant statistically. 4. Salivary buffering capacity was 8.5 drops in males and 6.7 drops in females 5. It seems the stimulated salivary flow rate and buffering capacity to be the anti-cariogenic factors in the occurrence of permanent tooth caries in Koreans.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2004

The effect of xylitol and sorbitol chewing gums on dental caries levels among 5-year old kindergarteners was investigated. Three kindergartens the operations of which were partly subsidized by municipal government of Daegu city, Korea, were chosen as the study sites. The child base of the kindergartens were considered demographically and ethnically similar, representing middle-income families. The subjects were examined at their own kindergarten by the two dentists. Participation in the program was voluntary. Over 12 months, 123 participants chewed xylitol chewing gums(X group; 42 subjects), sorbitol chewing gum(S group; 42 subjects), or did not receive chewing gum as a control group(C group; 39 subjects). Consumption of xylitol and sorbitol was 4.5 to 5.0 g/day/subject, consumed in five daily chewing episodes of 5 min. Oral examination, Dentocult-SM test and interproximal dental plaque collection were completed at baseline and 12 months later. The dmfs of group C increased 59.2%, but group S increased 33.4% and group X increased only 31.3% during 12 months study period. The caries prevention ratio was 47.1% at group X and 43.6% at group S. There also appeared the reduction of caries activity at group X(1.39), group S(1.50) than control group(1.79). Compared with groups S and C, there was a statistically significant reduction of S. mutans in interproximal plaque in group X. The results suggest that xylitol chewing gum can prevent dental caries of deciduous dentition, and may be a little more effective than a sorbitol-containing product in controlling some caries-associated parameters in kindergarten-age subjects.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.135-144
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between oral health behavior and dietary habits and caries occurrence test and to provide basic data necessary for prevention of dental caries. The average salivary salivary fraction was 8.35ml and the non - amorphous salivary fraction was 2.41ml. The salivary buffering ability was 9.29 and the mean glucose retention time was 15.81 minutes. In the Streptococcus mutans colony count test, low risk group <105 was 80.5% and low risk group <105 was 84.4% in Lactobacillus colony count test. Correlation between caries test scores showed a positive correlation between salivary ratio and non - salivary ratio, saliva buffering ability, non - salivary fraction and glucose retention time, and Lactobacillus. Factors affecting the irritant saliva fraction were alcohol as a factor affecting the ratio of nuts, pork, and non - irritant saliva. In order to prevent dental caries, proper dietary control education should be combined with dental caries activity test and oral health education for proper eating habits.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1829-1835
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• 2016

Dental caries is caused by cariogenic biofilm, an oral biofilm including Streptococcus mutans. Recently, the prevention of dental caries using various probiotics has been attempted. Lactococcus lactis HY 449 is a probiotic bacterium. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of L. lactis HY 449 on cariogenic biofilm and to analyze its inhibitory mechanisms. Cariogenic biofilm was formed in the presence or absence of L. lactis HY 449 and L. lactis ATCC 19435, and analyzed with a confocal laser microscope. The formation of cariogenic biofilm was reduced in cultures spiked with both L. lactis strains, and L. lactis HY 449 exhibited more inhibitory effects than L. lactis ATCC 19435. In order to analyze and to compare the inhibitory mechanisms, the antibacterial activity of the spent culture medium from both L. lactis strains against S. mutans was investigated, and the expression of glucosyltransferases (gtfs) of S. mutans was then analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. In addition, the sucrose fermentation ability of both L. lactis strains was examined. Both L. lactis strains showed antibacterial activity and inhibited the expression of gtfs, a nd t he d ifference b etween both strains did not show. In the case of sucrose-fermenting ability, L. lactis HY 449 fermented sucrose but L. lactis ATCC 19435 did not. L. lactis HY 449 inhibited the uptake of sucrose and the gtfs expression of S. mutans, whereby the development of cariogenic biofilm may be inhibited. In conclusion, L. lactis HY 449 may be a useful probiotic for the prevention of dental caries.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2017

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in the dental field. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the most important bacteria in the formation of dental plaque and dental caries. In a previous study, we confirmed that the essential oil of Chrysanthemum boreale has antibacterial activity against S. mutans. Alpha-pinene is one of the major chemical components of Chrysanthemum boreale essential oil. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of ${\alpha}-pinene$ on cariogenic properties such as growth, acid production, biofilm formation, and bactericidal activity on S. mutans. Alpha-pinene at a concentration range of 0.25-0.5 mg/mL significantly inhibited the growth of S. mutans and acid production of S. mutans. Biofilm formation was significantly inhibited at > 0.0625 mg/mL ${\alpha}-pinene$, similar to the data from scanning electronic microscopy. Under confocal laser scanning microscopy, the bacterial viability was decreased by ${\alpha}-pinene$ in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that ${\alpha}-pinene$ may be a useful agent for inhibiting the cariogenic properties of S. mutans.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.647-651
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• 2007

It has been well established that S. mutans is the major etiological agent in dental caries, one of the most common oral diseases worldwide. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Saururus chinensis (S. chinensis) ethanol extracts on the growth, acid production, biofilm formation, adhesion, and insoluble glucan synthesis of S. mutans. The ethanol extracts of S. chinensis showed concentration dependent inhibitory activity against the growth and acid production of S. mutans, and produced significant inhibition at the concentration of 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/ml compared to the control group. The extracts markedly inhibited S. mutans adherence to HA treated with saliva, and cell adherence was repressed by more than 80% at the concentration of 0.05 mg/ml and complete inhibition was observed at the concentration of 0.4 mg/ml. On the activity of glucosyltransferase which synthesizes water insoluble glucan form sucrose, ethanol extract of S. chinensis showed more than 10% inhibition over the concentration of 0.025 mg/ml. The synthesis of insoluble glucan was decreased in the presence of 0.025 ${\sim}$ 0.4 mg/ml of the ethanol extract of S. chinensis. Our research strongly suggested S. chinensis was a promising natural product for the prevention of dental caries.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.117-129
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of demographic characteristics and oral health status on unmet dental needs among preschool children and to provide a basis for improvement of the dental care equality and accessibility using data from the $6^{th}$ National Health and Nutrition Survey. Methods: This study was performed using data collected from the $6^{th}$ National Health and Nutrition Survey. The subjects were 1,472 out of 22,940 people, who participated in the survey and under went oral examination. IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 20.0) was used for statistical analyses based on the complex sampling design. Frequency analysis was performed to determine the distribution of unmet dental needs according to the characteristics of the subjects. The Rao-Scott ${\chi}^2$ test was performed to examine the relationship of unmet dental needs with general characteristics and health- and oral health-related variables. Relevant factors were determined using binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The factors that had statistically significant relations with unmet dental needs included age, medical insurance, household income, limited physical activity, history of dental caries in deciduous teeth, and subjective health status. Logistic regression analysis of complex samples was conducted to determine factors related to unmet dental needs. The results of analysis showed that limited physical activity and history of dental caries in deciduous teeth were related to unmet dental needs. Conclusions: The results show the factors affecting, and the reasons for, the unmet dental needs of preschool children. Future studies are needed to develop national projects and oral health education reforms to address inequalities in preschool children's dental care.