Effect of weak electric current on reducing oral bacteria in vitro.

Abstract

The ions generated by weak electric current may be used for removal of dental plaque. Also, it has been judged from changes in the viable bacterial cell count and the amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the saliva that the passage of such a current also has a bactericidal effect on the oral microflora. We confirmed in vitro that 0.5 and 1.0 mA currents that passed for 10 min through phosphate buffered saline containing salivary bacteria were effective in killing the bacteria.