Triclosan-containing mouthwashes--does the nature of the solvent influence their clinical effect?

The effect of triclosan on plaque inhibition was studied with various solvents. Eight subjects used the solutions as mouthwashes twice daily for 4 days while refraining from any other form of oral hygiene. Bacteriologic tests were also done with the same solutions. The study showed that the nature of the substance used to dissolve triclosan may be of clinical significance. Solutions of triclosan in polyethylene glycol, glycerol, or 3% sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) alone showed marked antiplaque effect. (The first two solutions both contained 1.5% SLS). However, triclosan dissolved in Tween 80 had only a negligible clinical effect. In vitro experiment showed that antibacterial tests did not correlate well with clinical data. It is proposed that the nature of the micelles of the detergents which are used to dissolve triclosan is of significant importance. Strongly charged micelles such as SLS show clinical effect, whereas less charged micelles of SLS/Tween 80 or uncharged micelles of Tween 80 alone appear not to have this effect.