Antiplaque activity of some antimicrobial agents using a simple in vitro method.

Some antimicrobial compounds were tested for their antiplaque activity by a simple method involving measurement of the weight of Streptococcus sobrinus plaque on a glass surface. Chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, and n-tetradecylamine reduced the weight of plaque produced by S. sobrinus in vitro; some N-palmityl and palmitoyl derivatives of polymethylenediamines were also found to possess antiplaque activity. The results suggest that an antiplaque effect does not necessarily depend on high bactericidal activity.