EFFECT OF A CALCIUM CARBONATE-BASED TOOTHPASTE WITH 0.3-PERCENT TRICLOSAN ON PH CHANGES IN DENTAL PLAQUE IN-VIVO

The effects of a calcium carbonate-based toothpaste with added 0.3% tr iclosan on the pH of human dental plaque after a cariogenic challenge with 10% sucrose solution was investigated against a calcium carbonate -based toothpaste without triclosan and an alumina-based toothpaste. A silica-based toothpaste served as a control. Twenty adult volunteers were included in this study. The results showed that the plaque pH dro p and the area under the curve for both calcium carbonate-based toothp astes, with and without 0.3% triclosan, were significantly less as com pared with the alumina-based toothpaste, with both parameters being le ast for the toothpaste with added 0.3% triclosan. Calcium carbonate ha s been shown in previous studies to have a buffering effect on the pla que pH after an acidogenic challenge. The addition of 0.3% triclosan t o the calcium carbonate-based toothpaste seemed to enhance this effect .