Antimicrobial activity of medicinally important essential oils against selected dental microorganisms

Oral diseases are among the major public health problems and the most common of chronic diseases that affect mankind. Essential oils could serve as an important natural alternative to prevent microbial growth in oral infection diseases. This study was undertaken to determine the in vitro anticariogenic activities of 11 essential oils against dental pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus pyogenes) and fungi (Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis) using agar well diffusion method, followed by determination of MIC.