Effectiveness of a baking soda toothpaste delivering calcium and phosphate in reducing dentinal hypersensitivity.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this controlled clinical trial was to determine the effectiveness and safety of a single-phase dentifrice that delivers calcium, phosphate, and fluoride to the tooth surface (Arm & Hammer Enamel Care for Sensitive Teeth toothpaste, United Kingdom) in reducing dentinal hypersensitivity.


METHODS
Two-hundred and eight qualifying subjects were randomly assigned to either the Enamel Care dentifrice group or a control dentifrice group, and brushed twice daily with their assigned dentifrice for eight weeks. Pain/discomfort in response to a thermal stimulus was assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 8 using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS; primary outcome variable) and the Schiff Thermal Sensitivity Scale (STSS; secondary outcome variable). After eight weeks, volunteers from the Enamel Care group were switched to the control dentifrice and participated in a second eight-week study to determine the degree of persistence of pain reduction.


RESULTS
Both groups had statistically significant VAS score reductions from baseline at weeks 4 and 8, with mean VAS scores in the Enamel Care group decreasing by 45.6% at week 4 and 61.1% at week 8 (p < 0.0001). Enamel Care was statistically significantly more effective than the control at weeks 4 and 8, with respective mean VAS reductions of 63% (p < 0.0001) and 33% (p = 0.0004) greater than the control. Consistent with the VAS score results, the Enamel Care group had respective statistically significant STSS score reductions of 77% and 58% greater than the control group (p < 0.0001). The reductions in dentinal hypersensitivity seen in the Enamel Care group at week 8 persisted for an additional eight weeks, during which the subjects discontinued use of Enamel Care and brushed with the control dentifrice.


CONCLUSIONS
Enamel Care for Sensitive Teeth toothpaste (United Kingdom) is an effective dentifrice for the management of dentinal hypersensitivity, and its efficacy persists for a least eight weeks following discontinued product use.
Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Princeton, NJ, USA. annahita.ghassemi@churchdwight.com
A
A
Ghassemi
W
W
Hooper
A E
AE
Winston
J
J
Sowinski
J
J
Bowman
N
N
Sharma
D000328:Adult; D002133:Calcium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010710:Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D057133:Dentin Desensitizing Agents; D010710:Phosphates; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D014100:Toothpastes; C546054:sodium bicarbonate-based toothpaste; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; C013216:potassium phosphate; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002133:Calcium Sulfate