Targeting Oral Biofilms: Comparative In Vitro Evaluation of Commercial Dental Antiseptics Against Clinical and Reference Microbial Strains.

Oral biofilms are complex polymicrobial communities involved in the development of dental caries and periodontal diseases. Chemical antiseptics are commonly used as adjuncts to mechanical plaque control; however, their antimicrobial efficacy varies depending on composition and mechanism of action. The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of four commercially available dental products (Corsodyl, Ozosan, HybenX, and Elugel) against a broad spectrum of oral microorganisms. This in vitro study included Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, comprising both reference strains and clinical isolates, as well as Candida albicans. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the disc diffusion assay, while antibiofilm activity was evaluated using a crystal violet microplate assay. All experiments were performed in triplicate. Statistical analysis was conducted using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test (p < 0.05). All tested products exhibited antimicrobial activity. Inhibition zones ranged from 9 to 56 mm for Gram-positive bacteria, 12 to 38 mm for Gram-negative bacteria, and 13 to 43 mm for Candida albicans. Two-way ANOVA revealed a significant effect of the dental product (p < 0.001), while incubation time was not significant (p > 0.05). HybenX showed the highest antimicrobial efficacy, while chlorhexidine-based products demonstrated consistent activity. Antibiofilm inhibition exceeded 80% for several strains. Dental antiseptics exhibit significantly different antimicrobial and antibiofilm profiles, highlighting the importance of appropriate product selection in oral biofilm control.