Youn Ha-Young, Kim Ji-Hye, Cho Min-Jeong, Hong Su-Hyung, Kim Eun-Kyong
Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
J Yeungnam Med Sci. 2025;42:34. doi: 10.12701/jyms.2025.42.34. Epub 2025 May 8.
Previous studies have demonstrated the inhibitory effect of hydrogen-rich water on biofilm formation. However, hydrogen-rich electrolyzed water (HEW) has not been evaluated as mouthwash, despite being economical, convenient, and biologically safe. We assessed the antibiofilm effects of HEW on Streptococcus mutans and its potential as a mouthwash.
The effect of HEW on S. mutans growth was assessed by measuring bacterial colony-forming units, and biofilm formation capacity was examined by crystal violet staining after culturing on a polystyrene plate. The effect of HEW on biofilm formation-related gene expression in S. mutans was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Finally, the effect of HEW on salivary S. mutans and plaque maturation was evaluated in 24 participants; after gargling with HEW twice daily, the salivary S. mutans count was quantified using a Caries Risk Test bacteria kit (Ivoclar Vivadent AG), and plaque maturation was compared using quantitative light-induced fluorescence imaging.
Exposure to HEW resulted in no significant changes in S. mutans growth but a significant reduction in biofilm formation in vitro (p<0.001). Furthermore, the gene expression of glucosyltransferases (gtfB, gtfC) was significantly lower than that in the control group treated with tap water (p<0.05, p<0.01). S. mutans counts and plaque maturation were significantly lower in participants who gargled with HEW than in those who gargled with tap water (p<0.01).
Our data suggest that oral rinsing with HEW exerts antibiofilm effects on S. mutans, indicating that it can be used as a mouthwash to treat dental biofilm-dependent diseases.
先前的研究已证明富氢水对生物膜形成具有抑制作用。然而，尽管富氢电解水经济、便捷且生物安全性高，但尚未作为漱口水进行评估。我们评估了富氢电解水对变形链球菌的抗生物膜作用及其作为漱口水的潜力。
通过测量细菌集落形成单位评估富氢电解水对变形链球菌生长的影响，并在聚苯乙烯平板上培养后通过结晶紫染色检查生物膜形成能力。通过实时聚合酶链反应评估富氢电解水对变形链球菌中生物膜形成相关基因表达的影响。最后，在24名参与者中评估富氢电解水对唾液中变形链球菌和牙菌斑成熟的影响；每天用富氢电解水漱口两次后，使用龋病风险测试细菌试剂盒（义获嘉伟瓦登特股份公司）对唾液中变形链球菌数量进行定量，并使用定量光诱导荧光成像比较牙菌斑成熟情况。
暴露于富氢电解水后，变形链球菌的生长没有显著变化，但体外生物膜形成显著减少（p<0.001）。此外，葡糖基转移酶（gtfB、gtfC）的基因表达明显低于用自来水处理的对照组（p<0.05，p<0.01）。用富氢电解水漱口的参与者中变形链球菌数量和牙菌斑成熟度明显低于用自来水漱口的参与者（p<0.01）。
我们的数据表明，用富氢电解水漱口对变形链球菌具有抗生物膜作用，表明它可作为漱口水用于治疗依赖牙菌斑的疾病。
