Electrochemical Killing of Streptococcus mutans Causing Dental Caries

Abstract

Streptococcus mutans is a major etiological agent causing dental carries and produces water-insoluble extracellular polysaccharide, glucan, for their adhesion to tooth surfaces. Electrochemical oxidation was applied to kill S. mutans cells. An oxidative peak current appeared at around 0.9 V vs. SCE in cyclic voltammogram of S. mutans cells on a membrane. Survival ratio of S. mutans cells attached on the electrode decreased by applying potentials above the anodic peak. All of the S. mutans cells aggregated with glucan on the electrode were killed when a constant potential of 1.2 V was applied for 10 min. Since physical treatment is not always efficient and chemical regimes are limited, the electrochemical killing will be an alternative mean for plaque reduction.