• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2009

Recently there is much interest in the antibacterial activity of nano-sized silver particle (nanosilver) since silver is known to be safe and effective as disinfectant for a long time. Oral malodor is considered to originate in the oral cavity primarily as a result of production of malodorous compounds by oral bacteria. Major compounds responsible for oral malodor are volatile sulfur compounds, which is thought to be generated by the G(-) anaerobic bacteria found normally in the oral cavity, especially on the dorsum of the tongue. The purposes of this study were to investigate the effect of nanosilver on growth of oral malodor generating microorganisms, including Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella melaninogenica, Klebsiella pneumonia, and to determine the optimal culture condition of them. The results were as follows: 1. The optimal culture condition for P. melaninogenica was vacuum culture using desiccator after evacuation of air by vacuum pump in chopped beef meat media. 2. The growth of K. pneumonia was temporarily inhibited by nanosilver (5 ppm and 10 ppm). 3. The morphological alteration and cell damage caused by nanosilver were observed in K. pneumonia.