THE EFFECT OF TRICLOSAN ON DEVELOPING GINGIVITIS

The aim of the study was to examine whether triclosan has an effect on developing gingival inflammation. 10 volunteers, with clinically heal thy gingivae were enrolled. The study was performed as a 2-week, doubl e-blind, crossover, experimental gingivitis trial. Between each plaque accumulation period, there was a wash-out phase of 4 weeks. A baselin e examination was performed which included assessment of plaque and gi ngivitis. The volunteers were asked to refrain from mechanical oral hy giene measures for 2 weeks. During this period, they rinsed 2x daily w ith one of the randomly assigned mouthrinse preparations. Solution A ( period A): 0.06% triclosan+ 2% tween 80. Solution B (period B): 0.06% triclosan+ 0.25% sodium lauryl sulphate. Re-examinations were performe d on days 4, 7, 11 and 14. The mean plaque score increased during peri od A to 2.2 (day 4), 2.8 (day 7), 3.1 (day 11) and 3.1 (day 14). The c orresponding scores for period B were significantly lower; 1.2 (day 4) , 1.8 (day 7), 2.0 (day 11) and 2.2 (day 14). The mean gingivitis scor es at baseline were 0.17 (periods A and B). The mean gingivitis scores increased to 0.45 (day 4), 0.69 (day 7), 0.83 (day 11) and 0.96 (day 14) when the subjects rinsed with solution A and 0.42 (day 4), 0.64 (d ay 7), 0.78 (day 11) and 0.92 (day 14) in period B. There were no stat istically significant differences between periods A and B with respect to gingivitis. Thus, although significantly more plaque formed during period A than period B, no differences could be found between the gin givitis scores in the 2 periods.