Toothpaste Vs Mouthwash Lab Report

The effect of toothpaste to oral bacteria VS the effect of mouthwash to oral bacteria

Problem: Bacteria in ones’ mouth causes many problems for oneself in the future. For example, gum diseases, bad breath, etc.., Toothpaste and mouthwash is promised to kill most of the bacteria in one’s mouth, but which is more effective at killing the bacteria and preventing future problems? This experiment and research is going to prove which is more effective at killing oral bacteria.

Purpose: This experiment is to determine whether toothpaste is more effective at killing the bacteria in ones’ mouth vs the effectiveness of mouthwash at killing bacteria in one’s mouth. This experiment is important for many reasons,
one main reason is for ones’ personal hygiene.

Hypothesis:
If one pours two solutions: one of toothpaste and distilled water and the other of mouthwash and distilled water onto the bacteria swabbed from the participants’ mouth then, one can compare the effectiveness between the toothpaste and mouthwash solution. It’s likely to believe that they will have similar efficiency but the toothpaste solution will have a higher efficiency because of the Colgate toothpaste brand.

Materials:
Toothpaste (New Crest, Aquafresh, Colgate)
Mouthwash (Crest, Listerine, Meijers)
Pipet
Erlenmeyer flask (to measure the amount of sterile water to pour)
6 bowls (any size will do)
6 dishes (any size will do)
Sterile water
Sticky notes
Pencil
Paper

Procedure:
Find a lab where ones’ work can be done with a mentor and where one can place all their materials.
Get one bowl, pour 10 mL of sterile water into the bowl and take one inch of New Crest toothpaste and mix it with the water until it turns into a solution.
Get the participant to rinse his/her mouth for 10 seconds and then to spit the water out into the sink. Repeat this three times.
Use the swab and rub it over the front and back of the participants’ teeth and place it on the dish where it will then sit while the remaining aspects of the tests are done.
Use the pipet to gently pour the solution over the swab with the participants’ oral bacteria and leave it on the dish. Use a sticky note to label this “New Crest- toothpaste”.
Procedures two, three, four, five, and six are repeated using Colgate toothpaste and Aquafresh toothpaste. Use the sticky notes to label them correctly.
Now that all three toothpaste solutions are done, place the dishes aside in a cool shady place for the oral bacteria to colonize.
Get one bowl and pour 10 mL of sterile water into it. Take 16 mL (1 in=16.3871 mL) of Crest mouthwash and mix it with the sterile water to make it a solution.
Get the participant to rinse his/her mouth for 10 seconds and then to spit the water out into the sink. Repeat this three times. (Repeat step three)
Use the swab and rub it over the front and back of the participants’ teeth and place it on the dish where it will then sit while the remaining aspects of the tests are done. (Repeat step four)
Use the pipet to slowly pour the solution over the swab and leave it on the dish. Use a sticky note to label this “Crest- mouthwash”
Procedures eight, nine, ten, and eleven are repeated using Listerine mouthwash and Meijers’ mouthwash. Use the sticky notes to label them correctly.
Now that all three mouthwash solutions are done, place them (the dishes) aside in a cool spot for the bacteria to colonize.
After 24 hours, come back and measure the results. Compare the effectiveness by looking at the ring around the bacteria.

The Effect of Toothpaste to Oral Bacteria VS the Effect of Mouthwash to Oral Bacteria This project will compare the efficiency of toothpaste and mouthwash.
This will be tested by placing bacteria in a solution made up of a mixture with distilled water and toothpaste and bacteria in a solution of mouthwash. In this experiment the three toothpaste brands being used are: Colgate Toothpaste, New Crest Toothpaste, and Aquafresh Toothpaste. The three different mouthwash being used are: Crest Mouthwash, Listerine Mouthwash, and Meijers’ Mouthwash. There are two control groups. Oral bacteria is important for many reasons, one main reason is for ones’ personal hygiene. There are trillions and trillions of bacteria in the human body. According to human microbiota, “It is estimated that 500 to 1,000 species of bacteria live in the human gut. Bacterial cells are much smaller than human cells, and it is often said that there are at least ten times as many bacteria as human cells in the body.” Since there are so many different kinds of bacteria in one’s body it’s important that one should take care of themselves. According to oral ecology, “those that do not have a clean mouth between 100 million to 1 billion bacteria on each tooth.” Everyday bacteria grows in a persons’ mouth. Though some bacteria actually protect our teeth and gums, there are many diseases that can be related back to oral bacteria. One harmful bacteria is called the “streptococcus mutans” which causes tooth decay and gum
disease. This mutans live in a persons’ mouth and lives off of the starches and sugars one consumes and digests. There are many things human beings can do to reduce the amount of bacteria in their mouth. For example when someone flosses it helps to remove the plaque from areas between teeth and places where a toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing is also important because if the plaque is not removed it will harden into calculus or tartar. The other two important things people can do to reduce the most amount of oral bacteria are, brushing their teeth and using mouthwash. Toothpastes which contain copolymer and triclosan are better than regular fluoride toothpastes at killing some oral bacteria that live in peoples’ mouths. Also, research shows that antimicrobial Listerine Mouthwash controls the growth of bacteria so they do not damage our teeth when they grow. The science behind mouthwash is as simple as it helps people with their bad breath and causing people not to have tooth decay. Streptococcus mutans are mainly responsible for tooth decay and cavities. According to inside science, “Specifically Targeted Anti-Microbial Peptides (STAMP) – A new anti-microbial mouthwash that eliminates only the harmful streptococcus mutans bacteria while remaining on the teeth to keep fighting bacterial growth and Targeted Antimicrobial Therapy – A therapeutic approach that targets the cause of infection and prevents the growth of specific bacteria” Because of these ingredients inside the mouthwash, mouthwash has an efficiency of keeping ones’ teeth clean, odor free, and teeth almost bacteria free. The science behind toothpaste is very similar to the science behind mouthwash.
Toothpastes contain fluoride which is one of the major factors in reducing dental decay and it has been used in toothpastes for almost fifty years. Toothpastes work by promoting a chemicals reaction is tooth enamel- which is the outer white visible layer made up of a calcium based mineral called hydroxyapatite- that brings in replacement minerals including calcium. According to Alexis Roberts-Mclntosh, “Fluoride incorporates itself into enamel weakened by acid attack, making it more resistant to future acid attacks.” All toothpastes vary with ingredients but most will contain the following; Abrasives, Detergents, Humectants, Perspectives, and Flavoring and coloring
agents.
Table of Contents:

Abstract

Conclusion

Acknowledgements:
I want to thank my mom and dad for buying my material, my ap biology teacher for letting me use her lab so I could successfully conduct this experiment.

Toothpaste Brands Number of Bacteria
New Crest #1 5 New Crest #2 7 New Crest #3 8
Colgate #1 2
Colgate #2 1
Colgate #3 X
Aquafresh #1 2
Aquafresh #2 2
Aquafresh #3 8 Mouthwash Brands Number of Bacteria
Meijers #1 5
Meijers #2 3
Meijers #3 0
Listerine #1 13
Listerine #2 7
Listerine #3 17
New Crest #1 0
New Crest #2 1
New Crest #3 0 Control Group Number of Bacteria
Control #1 0
Control #2 2