title: The influence of a dentifrice containing a zinc salt and a nonionic antimicrobial agent on the maintenance of gingival health.
abstract: The purpose of the present investigation was to test the concept that a dentifrice containing zinc citrate and Triclosan could maintain gingival health. The gingival health of 101 young predominately female student nurses in Oslo was brought to a high level by professional cleaning supported by oral hygiene instruction. The criterion of gingival health was less than or equal to 5 elicited bleeding sites from a full mouth assessment. The mean bleeding value attained for the whole group was 3.5. 2 balanced groups were formed, based on the initial number of elicited bleeding sites and plaque values. One group used the test dentifrice and the other group the placebo for 6 months, with an intermediate assessment after 3 months. The placebo group failed to maintain the standard of oral hygiene and gingival health that had been achieved by professional care. In contrast, the group using the test dentifrice for 6 months exhibited similar levels of plaque and gingival health to that observed at baseline following oral hygiene instruction. After 6 months, less than 7% of the subjects in the placebo group possessed healthy gingivae in contrast to 60% of the test group. Thus a dentifrice containing a zinc salt and nonionic germicide had successfully maintained gingival health in a group of young adults.
authors.affiliation: Gibbs Dental Division, Unilever Research, Port Sunlight Laboratory, Bebington, Wirral, England.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Svatun
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Saxton
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van der Ouderaa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rölla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002951:Citrates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019343:Citric Acid; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014260:Triclosan / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002951:Citrates; D003802:Dentifrices; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D014100:Toothpastes; D019343:Citric Acid; D014260:Triclosan