The effect of a triclosan/copolymer/fluoride 
toothpaste on plaque formation, gingivitis, and 
dentin...

The daily removal of supragingival dental plaque is a key factor in the prevention of gingivitis. The aim of the study was to compare the gingival health benefits of a triclosan/copolymer/fluoride toothpaste (Colgate Total, a fluoride toothpaste containing an antiseptic) to a commercially available toothpaste containing 0.243% sodium fluoride in a silica base (Colgate Herbal, a conventional fluoride toothpaste with herbal extracts).

A total of 50 patients with gingivitis and at least one sensitive tooth were included. The subjects were randomly stratified into two groups: Colgate Total toothpaste, and Colgate Herbal toothpaste. After a 4-week pre-experimental phase, baseline Plaque Index (Quigley-Hein Index) (PI), Gingival Index (GI), Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were assessed. The PI, GI, GBI, and VAS were reexamined at weeks 4, 12, and 24 after the baseline.

Fifty subjects complied with the protocol and completed the study. The conventional fluoride toothpaste with herbal extracts group and the fluoride toothpaste containing an antiseptic group exhibited significant reductions in PI, GI, GBI, and VAS over time. The amount of reduction after 6 months of the treatment was higher in the Total group compared to Herbal group (1.82 vs 1.39, P = .015 for PI; 0.67 vs 0.37, P < .005 for GI; and 56.64% vs 34.26%, P < .005 for GBI). No significant difference was seen for VAS.

Twice daily brushing with a toothpaste containing 0.3% triclosan and polyvinyl methyl ether and maleic acid copolymer provides a more effective level of plaque control and gingival health with no effect on decreasing dentin hypersensitivity compared to conventional fluoride toothpaste. Toothpastes containing triclosan/copolymer, in addition to fluoride, result in a higher reduction in plaque, gingival inflammation, and gingival bleeding when compared with fluoride toothpastes without triclosan/copolymer.