Fig. 4

Viability of oral biofilms following repeated exposures to test rinses. Biofilms were cultivated on hydroxyapatite surfaces inoculated with saliva. Biofilms were then exposed, in triplicate, to mouthrinse formulations twice daily for 4 d. Data show mean viability of aerobes/facultative anaerobes total anaerobes and Gram-negative anaerobes as determined by viable counting. Both test rinses caused significant reductions in viability compared to their respective controls (*, p < 0.05, n = 3), except TFR against anaerobes. CFR caused significant reductions in viability of aerobes compared to treatment-free control (#, p < 0.05, n = 3). There were no significant differences between TR and TFR except against Gram-negative anaerobes in three separate experiments (^, p < 0.05, n = 3)