COMPARISON BETWEEN 3 TRICLOSAN DENTIFRICES ON PLAQUE, GINGIVITIS AND SALIVARY MICROFLORA

3 triclosan-containing dentifrices were compared in a 6-month, unsuper vised tooth brushing study. The effects on plaque, gingival bleeding a nd certain salivary micro-organisms (mutans streptococci, lactobacilli , total counts of streptococci and total counts of micro-organisms) we re evaluated. 123 subjects were divided into 4 groups according to sev erity of gingival bleeding index. 112 subjects completed the study. Fo llowing a 4-week pre-experimental period, using a sodium monofluoropho sphate dentifrice (placebo), the subjects were assigned to use one of 3 triclosan-containing dentifrices, available on the Swedish market: C olgate Paradent (a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice) (n=26); Pepsodent G um Health (a triclosan/zinc citrate dentifrice) (n=31); Dentosal Frisk t Tandkott (a triclosan/pyrophosphate dentifrice) (n=28); or to contin ue with the placebo (n=27). The results revealed that Colgate Paradent reduced baseline plaque values by 39% (Quigley and Hein) over the 6-m onth experimental period. The corresponding values for the other modal ities were: a reduction of 6% for Pepsodent Gum Health, an increase of 5% for Dentosal Friskt Tandkott, and an increase of 2% for placebo. A significant difference in the plaque levels (p<0.05) was found betwee n Colgate Paradent and Pepsodent Gum Health and between Colgate Parade nt and placebo. The gingival bleeding index was improved in all 4 grou ps. A significant difference (p<0.05) was found with respect to bleedi ng between Colgate Paradent and placebo (p<0.05) at the 3-month regist ration. A statistically significant increase over time in total number of streptococci and total colony forming units were found for the Den tosal, Pepsodent and placebo groups, but not for Colgate. To conclude, this study seems to verify that a dentifrice containing a combination of triclosan and copolymer is effective in reducing supragingival pla que formation and gingival bleeding without causing major shifts in th e salivary microflora.