[The efficacy on natural extrinsic stain of Colgate whitening dentifrice--eight-week study]

To assess the effect on natural extrinsic dental stain by use of a dentifrice containing 1% tetrasodium polyphosphate (TSPP), 7% sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), 0.243% sodium fluoride and 10% high cleaning silica (HCS) over an eight-week period was compared to a sodium fluoride/silica placebo dentifrice without stain removal ingredients.

Ninety one subjects were selected and stratified into two balanced groups randomly assigned to use the test dentifrice or the placebo dentifrice. The two groups were well balanced with regard to their mean baseline stain index scores, gender and tobacco habits. Subjects were instructed to brush their teeth twice daily (morning and evening) for one minute with their assigned dentifrice and a commercially available soft bristled toothbrush. Extrinsic dental stain examinations, which included mean stain area and mean stain intensity, were conducted at baseline, four and eight weeks. The same dental examiner conducted examinations on the subjects at each examination.

After eight-week use of their assigned products, those subjects in the TSPP/STPP/HCS dentifrice group demonstrated a statistically significant (P = 0.0001) stain reduction of 37.1%, as compared to the fluoride placebo dentifrice group without stain removal ingredients.

The use of a dentifrice containing 1% tetrasodium polyphosphate, 7% sodium tripolyphosphate, 0.243% sodium fluoride and 10% high cleaning silica is effective in reducing natural extrinsic dental stain, when compared to a placebo fluoride dentifrice.