Efficacy of a combined sea salt-based oral rinse with xylitol against dental plaque, gingivitis, and salivary streptococcus mutans load

Dental plaque is a biofilm which forms on the non-shedding surfaces of the oral cavity. If left untreated, the succession of dental plaque development can lead to serious complications, such as caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. The control of dental plaque on tooth surfaces is vital for the prevention of dental plaque related diseases. In this context, antimicrobial agents may serve as a valuable complement to mechanical plaque removal. Therefore the present study was aimed to evaluate the action of a combined rinsing solution containing different antimicrobials (sea salt, xylitol and lysozyme) used individually, for the reduction of a salivary specific bacteria (S. mutans) colonizing oral environment.