Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
06:06
Adjunctive Diode Laser Therapy and Probiotic Lactobacillus Therapy in the Treatment of Periodontitis and Peri-Implant Disease
Published on: May 9, 2022
Antiplaque and antigingivitis toothpastes
Mariano Sanz1, Jorge Serrano, Margarita Iniesta
1Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal Diseases Research Group, Faculty of Odontology, University Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
Monographs in Oral Science
|July 3, 2013
Summary
Toothpastes clean teeth and deliver therapeutic benefits, with active ingredients like stannous fluoride targeting plaque. Long-term clinical trials evaluate these antiplaque agents for oral health prevention.
Area of Science:
- Oral hygiene and preventative dentistry.
- Pharmacology of dental preparations.
- Microbiology of oral biofilms.
Background:
- Toothpastes, or dentifrices, evolved from simple cleaning agents to sophisticated delivery systems for therapeutic compounds.
- Modern toothpastes aim to enhance mechanical cleaning and provide antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory effects.
- Active ingredients in toothpastes are crucial for chemical plaque control and overall oral health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the scientific evidence for common antiplaque agents in toothpaste formulations.
- To emphasize findings from 6-month clinical trials and meta-analyses.
- To highlight the role of dentifrices in preventing bacterial biofilm formation.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature focusing on antiplaque agents in dentifrices.
- Emphasis on evidence from randomized clinical trials of at least 6 months' duration.
- Inclusion of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of relevant studies.
Main Results:
- Various active agents, including enzymes, triclosan, chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, and metal salts (e.g., stannous fluoride), have demonstrated antiplaque activity.
- Long-term studies (≥6 months) are critical for evaluating the efficacy of these agents.
- Dentifrices are effective vehicles for delivering oral health preventive measures via toothbrushing.
Conclusions:
- Active ingredients in toothpastes play a significant role in chemical plaque control.
- Long-term use of therapeutic toothpastes is indicated for preventing bacterial biofilm, particularly for gingivitis and periodontal maintenance patients.
- Dentifrices are ideal for delivering preventive oral health agents due to their frequent use with toothbrushing.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Hand hygiene
Asepsis is the practice of preventing or breaking the chain of infection. The nurse employs aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of microorganisms and reduce the risk of diseases. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of aseptic techniques and is classified into medical and surgical asepsis. Medical asepsis includes hand hygiene and the use of gloves. Surgical asepsis, or the sterile technique, refers to practices that render and keep objects and areas free of microorganisms.
Hand washing...
Hand washing...
01:20Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors
Antiplatelet drugs emerge as frontline defenders against the insidious threat of thromboembolic diseases, where abnormal clots obstruct vital blood vessels. These drugs stand as bulwarks, inhibiting platelet aggregation and clot formation, thereby mitigating the risk of life-threatening conditions like myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and thrombotic strokes.
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
01:21Tooth Anatomy
The human tooth enables us to eat a variety of foods, speak clearly, and even aid in shaping our faces. Teeth are composed of various elements that work together. Here's a detailed look at the anatomy of a human tooth.
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
01:27The Oral Microbiota
The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
01:18Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants
Oral anticoagulants are vital tools in preventing and treating blood clotting disorders. This diverse class of medications can be categorized as vitamin K antagonists, exemplified by warfarin, and direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), such as dabigatran, as well as factor Xa inhibitors, including rivaroxaban.
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
01:15Teeth
The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...