Evaluation of antifungal activity of six children's toothpaste on Candida albicans isolated from early childhood caries patients

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is an aggressive, destructive form of dental caries that affects the children younger than 6 years of age. Candida is known to increase the adherence of Streptococcus mutans to the oral biofilm and produce acids that cause tooth demineralization.

Aim of the study: To evaluate the efficacy of six commercially available children's toothpaste on clinical isolates of Candida albicans obtained from ECC patients.

Materials and methods: The study population comprised 60 children aged 3-6 years having ECC. Samples were divided into six groups comprising ten children in each group. Samples were collected using sterile cotton swabs, inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar, and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Species identification was done by germ tube test and growth on corn meal agar. After the confirmed growth of C. albicans, the six commercially available children's toothpaste namely Organic Children's Coconut Oil Toothpaste^®, Aloe Dent Children's Toothpaste^®, Patanjali Dant Kanti Junior Toothpaste^®, Colgate Kids Toothpaste^®, Pediflor Kids Toothpaste^®, and Crest Pro-Health Stages Kids Toothpaste^® and distilled water as control group were subjected for antifungal activity of C. albicans. Agar plates were incubated at 37°C for 48 h, and the diameter of the zones of inhibition was measured and recorded. Data were tabulated and statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Science (16.0) version.

Results: Pediflor kids toothpaste® showed maximum antifungal activity and Aloe Dent children's toothpaste® showed minimum antifungal activity.

Conclusion: All brands of children's toothpaste show antifungal activity against Candida albicans.

Keywords: Candida albicans; early childhood caries; toothpaste.