Disruption of complement-mediated reactions by insoluble dentifrice ingredients

It has been strongly suggested that the complement system plays a critical role in the pathological processes occurring in periodontal disease. Because individuals with this common disease are often instructed to brush their teeth more often and for longer periods of time, several commercial toothpastes were tested for their effects on complement-mediated reactions. In this study, six of the nine toothpastes tested activated the classical complement pathway, leading to C3 cleavage, as determined by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The activating ingredients were contained in the insoluble fraction of the toothpastes. Of the toothpaste abrasives, Ca++ pyrophosphate was determined to have C3-converting activity. One of the toothpastes, which contains a particular type of amorphous silica abrasive, appeared to bind both native C3 and its conversion products. In general, disruption of complement-mediated functions in affected tissues could alter local immunological responses and interfere with healing. The in vitro studies described here suggest a need for clinical studies to ascertain the in vivo influences of dentifrice ingredients on complement-mediated reactions in periodontal disease.