RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS COEFFICIENT - A QUALITY CHARACTERISTIC OF TOOTHPASTES CONTAINING ACTIVE COMPONENTS

It has been proposed that the parameter of relative effectiveness coef ficient (REC) be used far the qualitative assessment of toothpastes co ntaining active ingredients. REC is the ratio between the concentratio n of the active component in eater eluates obtained after three minute s and adequately prolonged (up to the reaching of equilibrium state) d ispersion of the toothpaste in distilled eater at a 1:4 ratio (conditi on simulating the use of toothpaste in the oral cavity). The change in REC after storage following its production, as Kell as testing the to othpaste stability at high and low temperatures, provides an evidence for deviations in its quality, REC aas applied for the assessment of t oothpastes containing 0.5% zinc citrate as an active ingredient.