title: Evaluation of the effects of brushing on the removal of dental plaque.
abstract: The ability of three different toothpaste abrasive systems--sodium bicarbonate, hydrated silica, and dicalcium phosphate--to remove dental plaque has been examined. A total of 34 volunteers participated in an independent, double-blind, crossover clinical investigation that compared the amount and percentage of plaque removed with a single brushing with Arm & Hammer Dental Care (sodium bicarbonate), Crest Regular Toothpaste (hydrated silica), and Colgate Regular Toothpaste (dicalcium phosphate) after 48 hours of limited oral hygiene. All three dentifrices removed from 58% to 68% of plaque, but the percentage removed after brushing with Arm & Hammer Dental Care was significantly greater than with either Crest (p = 0.0001) or Colgate (p = 0.0002) during a controlled, 1-minute toothbrushing. The mean amount of plaque removed with Arm & Hammer Dental Care was also significantly greater than that with Crest or Colgate (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.0004, respectively). These results indicate that the abrasive system in Arm & Hammer Dental Care was the most efficient in removing plaque and improving oral hygiene. In the second half of the study, Arm & Hammer Dental Care was compared with Arm & Hammer Peroxicare and Mentadent toothpaste in 45 subjects. All three dentifrices removed from 57% to 70% of the plaque, with Arm & Hammer Dental Care removing significantly more than Mentadent (p = 0.007).
authors.affiliation: Dental Products Testing, Inc., Lake Worth, FL, USA. plwesley@msn.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mankodi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Berkowitz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Durbin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012824:Silicic Acid; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014099:Toothbrushing; D014100:Toothpastes
chemical_list: D003802:Dentifrices; D014100:Toothpastes; C546060:hydrated silica gel-based toothpaste; C546054:sodium bicarbonate-based toothpaste; D012824:Silicic Acid; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide