title: Randomized Trial of Plaque-Identifying Toothpaste: Decreasing Plaque and Inflammation.
abstract: Randomized data are sparse about whether a plaque-identifying toothpaste reduces dental plaque and nonexistent for inflammation. Inflammation is intimately involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is accurately measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a sensitive marker for cardiovascular disease. The hypotheses that Plaque HD (TJA Health LLC, Joliet, Ill), a plaque-identifying toothpaste, produces statistically significant reductions in dental plaque and hs-CRP were tested in this randomized trial.
  
  
  
  Sixty-one apparently healthy subjects aged 19 to 44 years were assigned at random to this plaque-identifying (n = 31) or placebo toothpaste (n = 30) for 60 days. Changes from baseline to follow-up in dental plaque and hs-CRP were assessed.
  
  
  
  In an intention-to-treat analysis, the plaque-identifying toothpaste reduced mean plaque score by 49%, compared with a 24% reduction in placebo (P = .001). In a prespecified subgroup analysis of 38 subjects with baseline levels >0.5 mg/L, the plaque-identifying toothpaste reduced hs-CRP by 29%, compared with a 25% increase in placebo toothpaste (P = .041).
  
  
  
  This plaque-identifying toothpaste produced statistically significant reductions in dental plaque and hs-CRP. The observed reduction in dental plaque confirms and extends a previous observation. The observed reduction in inflammation supports the hypothesis of a reduction in risks of cardiovascular disease. The direct test of this hypothesis requires a large-scale randomized trial of sufficient size and duration designed a priori to do so. Such a finding would have major clinical and public health implications.
authors: College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Boston.
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Fasula
authors: College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Boston.
authors: Carla A
authors: CA
authors: Evans
authors: Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston.
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Boyd
authors: Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston.
authors: Lori
authors: L
authors: Giblin
authors: College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Boston.
authors: Benjamin Z
authors: BZ
authors: Belavsky
authors: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison.
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Hetzel
authors: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: McBride
authors: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison.
authors: David L
authors: DL
authors: DeMets
authors: Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton. Electronic address: chenneke@health.fau.edu.
authors: Charles H
authors: CH
authors: Hennekens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D014100:Toothpastes; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014100:Toothpastes; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Plaque HD; Plaque-identifying toothpaste; Reducing dental plaque; Reducing hs-CRP; Reducing inflammation