Effect of chlorhexidine and toothbrushing on the presence of bacteria on gingival and buccal epithelial cells.

Swabs of buccal and gingival epithelial cells from healthy young adult donors were washed in physiological saline solution, smeared on glass slides and stained with acridine orange. The presence of bacteria attached onto epithelial cells was examined under a fluorescence microscope. Four hours after a chlorhexidine rinse, the number of cells with > 50 attached bacteria had almost completely vanished. The degree of bacterial colonization seemed to re-establish at a level exceeding the baseline. One week after chlorhexidine treatment the degree of colonization was still over the control level. Toothbrushing with a conventional toothpaste reduced immediately the number of cells with > 50 bacteria. The colonization had re-established to the pre-washing levels at the buccal sites at 1 h and at the gingival sites at 4 h after toothbrushing. A method for the evaluating of the antimicrobial power of oral hygiene products is presented.