The in vitro susceptibility of 128 bacterial strains was tested to amine fluoride-stannous fluoride (AmF + SnF) and chlorhexidine (CHX) solutions. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Streptococcus mutans, and Bacteroides intermedius were among the species investigated. The 50% and 90% minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were assessed by an agar dilution method. The MIC ranges for A. actinomycetemcomitans were 2-32 micrograms/ml for CHX and 0.25-64 micrograms/ml for AmF + SnF. The respective values for S. mutans were 0.5-8 micrograms/ml (CHX) and 2-8 micrograms/ml (AmF + SnF); and 4-8 micrograms/ml (CHX) and 2-4 micrograms/ml (AmF + SnF) for B. intermedius. Streptococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus were most resistant of the control strains (MIC 64 micrograms/ml to CHX and 32 micrograms/ml to AmF + SnF, respectively). Thus, both solutions tested exerted a definite inhibitory action on the dental plaque pathogens studied.