CONTROL OF CALCULUS FORMATION BY A DENTIFRICE CONTAINING CALCIUM LACTATE

The aim of this study was to re-investigate the anticalculus effects o f calcium lactate. To this end calcium lactate was incorporated into e xperimental toothpastes. Three groups of 20 human volunteers brushed t heir teeth at least twice daily with three different toothpastes: (1) one containing calcium lactate, (2) one containing calcium lactate plu s sodium lauryl sulphate, and (3) a control toothpaste. Plaque accumul ation, gingival bleeding and calculus formation were scored at the beg inning and at the end of the 3-month experimental period. After the fi rst clinical examination the dentition was professionally cleaned to r emove all dental deposits. The use of the calcium lactate containing t oothpastes had no significant effects on plaque accumulation and gingi val bleeding. However, calculus scores were significantly reduced in t he calcium lactate groups at the end of the experiment. The results co nfirm and extend previous findings that the topical use of calcium lac tate reduces calculus formation by, as yet, unexplained mechanisms.