This article discusses some existing and some
proposed additives to toothpastes.
Ingredients in dentifrices and their effect on plaque,
gingivitis and mutans streptococci
L Jannesson
D Birkhed
S Renvert
Abstract
The main objectives of this thesis were to study: (i) the effect
of an enzyme-containing dentifrice (Zendium Dentine®), with
addition of xylitol on mutans streptococci (MS) in saliva and
dental plaque (Paper I) (ii) the effect of a combination of triclosan
and xylitol in a dentifrice (Colgate Total®) on MS in saliva
and dental plaque (Paper II), and (iii) the effect of oxybenzone
on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-production in cell culture and the
effect of an oxybenzone- containing dentifrice on plaque, gingivitis
and MS (Paper III). In Paper I, the subjects were divided into
two test groups: one using a 10% xylitol and the other using a
5% xylitol dentifrice for 3 months. The addition of 10% xylitol
to Zendium Dentine® had an inhibitory effect on MS in both
saliva and dental plaque, and the effect of xylitol seemed to
be dose dependent. In Paper II, three groups were using one of
the following dentifrices: (i) Colgate Total® with addition
of 10% xylitol; (ii) Colgate Total®; and (iii) Colgate Total®
without triclosan and without xylitol. The results showed that
the addition of 10% xylitol to Colgate Total® reduced the
number of MS in saliva and plaque. This effect was more pronounced
at 6 months than at 2 months. In Paper III, the effect of oxybenzone
was studied in vitro and in vivo. Human Embryo Palatal Mesenchyme
(HEPM) cells were used to test the inhibition of IL-1b-stimulated
PGE2 production by different concentrations of oxybenzone. The
results revealed that there was no decrease of cell viability
up to 50 µm. A dose-dependent inhibition of stimulated PGE2
production was found: 50% inhibition (IC50) was found at 0.6 µm.
Paper III also included a double-blind clinical trial testing
two fluoride dentifrices: one with the addition of 0.5% oxybenzone
and one without. Plaque index was reduced in both groups. There
was no difference between the groups. A 25% reduction in gingival
index was observed in the oxybenzone group after 6 weeks, compared
to 2% in the placebo group, indicating an anti-inflammatory effect
of oxybenzone.
IFDHJ 2004; 2(1):46 - 46