Antibacterial effect of two toothpastes following a single brushing.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this double-blind, randomised cross-over study was to compare the antibacterial effect and the substantivity of two toothpaste formulations containing amine fluoride (AmF) or zinc chloride (ZnCl2).


METHODS
After a professional tooth cleaning, 20 volunteers refrained from all oral mechanical hygiene measures for the subsequent 24 hours (day 0). Subsequently, a plaque sample was taken from three teeth and analysed for vitality of the plaque bacteria by means of the vital fluorescence technique (VF0; in %). After assessment of this baseline value the subjects had to brush their teeth for 2 minutes with 1.2 ml of the allocated toothpaste containing (a) 0.66% AmF or (b) 0.2% ZnCl2. For the following 8 hours no oral hygiene measures were allowed. After 4 and after 8 hours further plaque samples were analysed for biofilm vitality (VF4, VF8). During the following 3 days the volunteers had to brush twice daily for 2 minutes with the allocated toothpaste. On day 4, plaque index was assessed using the criteria of Quigley and Hein (Turesky modification). After a washout time of 9 days the next test cycle with the other toothpaste was started.


RESULTS
Both toothpastes reduced the biofilm vitality significantly at VF4 and VF8 compared with VF0 (p < or =0.001). While after 8 hours the vitality values for the ZnCl2-toothpaste obtained significantly higher reductions (53%) than for the AmF-toothpaste (44%), results for plaque index were not significantly different (0.98 and 1.04 respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Both toothpastes showed a significant and prolonged antibacterial effect up to 8 hours with a benefit in favour of the ZnCl2 toothpaste.
Auschill
Thorsten M
TM
Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany. thorsten.auschill@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Deimling
Daniela
D
Hellwig
Elmar
E
Arweiler
Nicole B
NB
D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002712:Chlorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000379:methods*; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000588:Amines; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D002712:Chlorides; D014100:Toothpastes; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C016837:zinc chloride; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D005459:Fluorides