A comparison of a reformulated potassium citrate desensitising toothpaste with the original proprietary product

The recent tendency for toothpaste manufacturers to combine active ingredients for benefits to a number of oral problems requires that such combinations do not vitiate the action of any one agent. The aim of this study was to compare the desensitising effects of a modified formulation with the established product.

The study was a randomised, double blind, two treatment parallel design comparing an existing potassium citrate toothpaste product (Positive Control) with the same formulation to which triclosan and zinc citrate had been added (Test). A total of 56 subjects with dentine hypersensitivity (DH) completed the 8 week study period. At baseline, days 14 and 56 visual analogue scale scores were recorded by the subjects in response to air evaporative and cold water stimuli.

Both groups showed improvements, mostly statistically significant, from baseline to day 14 and through to day 56. Most data favoured the Test paste but differences were, for the most part, not significant.

It is concluded that the addition of known anti-plaque agents to an established potassium salt based desensitising toothpaste did not adversely affect the activity of the product in the treatment of DH.