Effectiveness of a mixture of tomato paste and cranberry juice as an antibacterial agent

Tartar is a key factor in developing such dental diseases as caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Tartar results from dental plaque formed by accumulation of bacteria in the tooth cavity. Following the period of about 12 days, unremoved plaque mineralizes in contact with salts, forming tartar firmly attached to the tooth surface. Tartar in the oral cavity increases the risk of inflammatory processes. In this study, we aim to assess the feasibility of using tomato paste and cranberry juice in combination as an antibacterial and plaque-removing agent. In order to obtain a mixture of tomato paste and cranberry juice, fruits were washed separately with clean water at room temperature and homogenized by grinding in a mortar. The resulting homogenized mass was centrifuged for separation. The as-obtained tomato paste and cranberry juice were mixed to yield a homogeneous mass. Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that a mixture of tomato paste and cranberry juice in a 1:1 ratio promotes the destruction of Staphylococcus aureus and some Streptococcus species, thus exhibiting high antimicrobial activity against these bacteria. In addition, exposure of tartar to the tested mixture of tomato paste and cranberry juice for 20 days led to an 86% destruction of tartar. Thus, a mixture of tomato paste and cranberry juice may serve as a promising antibacterial and cleansing agent for oral hygiene.