Efficacy of different vinegar solutions in removal of Candida albicans from denture acrylic resin

Abstract

Background and Aims: Denture hygiene has become an important aspect in managing patients who often present with signs of denture stomatitis associated with Candida infection. There is a need for denture disinfectants which are of low cost and are easily accessible to denture wearers. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of different vinegar solutions in removal of C. albicans from denture acrylic resin. Materials and Methods: Hundred and ninety-two acrylic plates were used. White wine vinegar (6%), rice vinegar (5.5%), and apple cider vinegar (5%) were used as disinfectants. Distilled water and 0.2% Chlorhexidine were used as controls. Cultures of C. albicans ATCC 90028 and a HIV strains were grown in Saboraud’s dextrose agar. Sterile acrylic resin plates were immersed in test tubes and 200μl of C. albicans suspension was added to each tube. Contaminated acrylic plates were divided into 5 groups of 6 plates each. Plates were immersed in 20 ml of white wine vinegar (WWV), Rice vinegar (RV), Apple cider vinegar (ACV), sterile distilled H2O, and chlorhexidine (CHX). These were incubated at room temperature for 30minutes, 1 hour and 8hours. Two non-exposed plates were included as controls. Results: ACV, WWV and RV equally eliminated both C. albicans ATCC 90028 and HIV strains from acrylic plates at 8 hours (% Kill=100). All tested vinegars failed to completely eliminate C. albicans strains at 30 minutes and 1 hour, with no statistical significant difference for ATCC strain(p<0.05) and with statistical difference for ACV (p=0.03) and RV (p=0.01) respectively for HIV strain. CHX completely eliminated ATCC strain at all tested times (%=100), but failed to completely eliminate HIV strain at 30 minutes and 1 hour. Sterile water, a negative control failed to completely eliminate both C. albicans strains at all tested times. Conclusions: The results of the current study confirm that vinegar can be used to remove C. albicans from dentures, if used for 8 hours.