Anticalculus efficacy of a chewing gum with polyphosphates in a twelve-week single-blind trial

A twelve-week clinical study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a chewing gum containing pyrophosphate (1%) and tripolyphosphate (1%) on controlling supragingival calculus deposits.

One-hundred and seventeen subjects enrolled in the study were randomly assigned to either a test gum or no gum group. Each participant received a full oral prophylaxis. Those chewing the test gum agreed to chew four times a day for five minutes each time over twelve weeks. Those assigned to the no gum group agreed not to chew any gum. After twelve weeks, participants were scored for calculus deposits using the modified Volpe-Manhold Calculus Index (VMI), received a second oral prophylaxis and entered the alternate group in this cross-over format. At the end of the twenty-fourth week, all subjects were again scored for calculus deposits and the study was completed. All participants received a supply of a sodium fluoride (0.32%) dentifrice for the study period. Calculus levels were scored by the same examiner for all measurements and recorded on computer. He was blinded to all treatment assignments.

One-hundred and eleven participants completed the study. Six participants left the study but none reported problems linked to the pyrophosphates in the chewing gum. The VMI mean score for the test gum group was 2.55 (+/- 2.50) and the mean score for the no gum group was 4.09 (+/- 3.18). The difference between the mean scores was highly significant with paired sample t-test (p < 0.0001).

The results indicated that a chewing gum containing tripolyphosphate and pyrophosphate reduced calculus formation by 37.6% compared to a no gum treatment.