A study to assess the plaque inhibitory action of a newly formulated triclosan toothpaste

Triclosan containing toothpastes have been noted for their potential to inhibit plaque and gingival inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine whether a toothpaste containing triclosan and an enhanced fluoride system would inhibit de novo plaque formation beyond that of a non-triclosan, conventional fluoride toothpaste.

This study used a 4-day plaque regrowth model in which 24 volunteers used toothpaste rinses as the only form of oral hygiene. Following a prophylaxis and a single brushing with the toothpastes, 2x daily rinsing with toothpaste slurries was used over the following 96 h.

After 24 h, there was no difference in plaque area between the triclosan paste and its control paste. After 96 h, a reduction in plaque score of 5% was noted for the test toothpaste compared to the control paste which was statistically significant (p=0.028). For plaque area this reduction was increased to 16%, which was also significant (p=0.006).

These findings would appear to warrant further investigation into the potential value of the paste in inhibiting both plaque and gingivitis.