Clinical efficacy of an herbal toothpaste

The purpose of this three-month, double-blind, parallel-design clinical stu dy was to compare the efficacy of two commercially available dentifrices, H erbal Toothpaste and Gum Therapy(R) and Colgate Total(R), in controlling gi n givitis, gingival bleeding, plaque and stain. Forty healthy adult volunte ers from the Junior Comprehensive Care Clinics at New York University Colle ge of Dentistry were accepted as subjects for this clinical trial. To be el igible for a baseline clinical examination, subjects had to first indicate that during the previous six months they habitually brushed their teeth two or more times per day, and had noticed "bleeding gums" or "blood in the to othpaste" after brushing or flossing their teeth. At the baseline examinati on, subjects were enrolled in the study if they had at least five Loe-Silne ss gingival bleeding sites and 20 natural teeth, including all anterior tee th and four molars. An independent test before treatment indicated that the re were no significant differences between the two groups at baseline. A on e-way Analysis of Variance indicated that both dentifrices had a significan t effect on gingivitis, gingival bleeding, plaque, and dental stain (p < 0. 05). No significant statistical differences were observed between Herbal To othpaste and Gum Therapy and Colgate Total for gingivitis or,or gingival bl eeding. Herbal Toothpaste and Gum Therapy produced statistically significan t differences in reducing plaque and stain relative to Colgate Total (p < 0 .05). The results obtained in this study support the clinical efficacy of b oth products in reducing gingivitis and plaque, and demonstrate the efficac y of Herbal Toothpaste and Gum Therapy in maintaining reductions of plaque and stain.