Inhibition of calculus formation by dentifrice formulations containing essential oils and zinc.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of three essential oil-containing dentifrice formulations with different zinc salts and concentrations on dental calculus formation in rats.


METHODS
A total of 150 rats were randomly distributed into five litter and sex-matched groups of 30. They were maintained on a calculogenic diet and topically treated twice daily with undiluted dentifrices. Each experimental dentifrice formulation contained a zinc salt, a fixed combination of essential oils (i.e. eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate, and thymol) and a hydrated silica abrasive. Commercial zinc-free and zinc-containing dentifrices were included as negative and positive controls, respectively. After 17 days calculus was scored post-mortem on molar teeth.


RESULTS
All groups of rats treated with zinc-containing dentifrices had significantly (P < 0.05) lower mean calculus scores than the group treated with a zinc-free control dentifrice. Other variables (e.g. fomulation type, essential oil content, zinc salt and concentration) did not significantly affect calculus scores. Thus, all three essential oil/zinc-containing dentifrices and a commercial, zinc-containing, tartar-control dentifrice inhibited calculus formation in this rat model.
Putt
Mark S
MS
Health Science Research Center, Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne 46805-1499, USA. putt@ipfw.edu
Yu
Duncan
D
Kohut
Bruce E
BE
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015032:Zinc / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003802:Dentifrices; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D015032:Zinc