Antibacterial Activity of Hydrogen-rich Water Against Oral Bacteria

Abstract:

There are estimated to be about 700 species of bacteria inthe oral cavity. Based on epidemiological investigations,some of these strains have been proposed as the pathogensresponsible for oral diseases such as dental caries, gingivitisand periodontitis. Since electrolyzed hydrogen-rich waterhas been shown to have beneficial effects on human immunity,its use has increased. In our study, the antibacterialactivity of hydrogen-rich water for oralagainst bacteria associatedwith oral disease was evaluated. The bacterial strainsStreptococcus mutans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonasgingivalis and Tannerella forsythia were culturedin specific growth medium. S. mutans, F. nucleatum and P.gingivalis were soaked to thein both hydrogen water andtap water for 30 sec and then inoculated onto mitis-salivariusagar and brain heart infusion agar including supplementedwithvitamin K and hemin, respectively. The numbersof bacterial colonies were then measured after cultivationfor 48 hours. In the case of T. forsythia, which does notgrow well on agar plates, inoculations into modified neworal spirochete (NOS) broth were performed and growth curveanalysis was undertaken every day with a spectrophotometer.Hydrogen water showed antibacterial activity against allfour bacterial strains in comparison with tap-water. We conclude from this that hydrogen water may have a positiveimpact on oral hygiene by helping to remove cariogenicbacteria and periodontopathogens.