Experimental Study Of Traditional Chinese Medicine Gall Caries

Dental caries is a common oral disease that is frequently encountered in clinical practice. According to the etiology of dental caries that is widely accepted in recent years, important factors contributing to the virulence of oral microorganism are the proliferation of cariogenic bacteria in oral cavity, the adhesion of bacteria to the smooth surface of tooth, and the ability of bacteria to produce acid. Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are the main bacteria. The acid protection and recrystallization of tooth enamel also contribute to the difference in cariosity.In the present study, we studied the ability of gallnut, a Chinese traditional medicine, to prevent caries from three aspects: the influence of gallnut on the proliferation, adhesion and acid production of Streptococcus mutans; its influence on the acid protection of tooth enamel; and its inhibitory effect on the development of dental caries in experimental animals. Conclusions are as follows:1. Gallnut and tannic acid, the main active constituent of gallnut, have an inhibitory effect on the proliferation, adhesion and acid production of Streptococcus mutans. Effect of gallnut soaker is stronger than that of gallnut decoction. Tannic acid is the main active constituent of gallnut However, further research needed to be done to examine whether there exist synergetic effects of other constituents.2. Gallnut enhances the acid protection of tooth enamel, with the effect similar to that of sodium fluoride.3. In rat, gallnut has an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of Streptococcus mutans and development of caries. And this effect of gallnut is equal to that of sodium fluoride.According to the results from our study, Chinese medicine gallnut may be employed as a new caries-preventing drag . The present study lays a theoretical foundation for the application of gallnut to caries prevention. However, further research is needed on the mechanism of the caries prevention of gallnut and the clinical application of gallnut.