Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries
Published on: March 31, 2021
Pediatric liquid medicaments - Are they cariogenic? An in vitro study
K L Girish Babu1, Geeta Maruti Doddamani2, L R Kumaraswamy Naik3
1Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, The Oxford Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore, India.
Aim:
Young and chronically sick children receive a variety of oral liquid medications on a routine and regular basis. These pharmaceutical preparations are cariogenic and acidogenic in nature. Hence, the present study was taken up to determine the cariogenic potential of the commonly prescribed pediatric liquid medicaments.
Materials And Methods:
Eight commonly used pediatric liquid medicaments (PLM) were selected and their endogenous pH was measured using a pH electrode meter. The sugar content in them was estimated using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The effect of PLM on Streptococcus mutans was assessed by the ditch plate method.
Results:
The pH of the liquid medicaments ranged between 6.05 (Salbid(®)) and 7.71 (Theopid(®)). Sucrose was observed in 7 PLM and glucose in 5 PLM. The highest concentration of sucrose was seen in Crocin(®). The lowest concentration of sucrose was seen with Althrocin(®). Both the antibiotic PLMs inhibited the S. mutans growth. Zevit(®) promoted the growth of S. mutans.
Conclusion:
The pH and concentration of sugars of pediatric liquid medicaments can pose as a threat to dental health, especially in chronically sick children, who are on long-term medications.
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

