Salivary and plaque triclosan levels after brushing with a 0.3% triclosan/copolymer/NaF dentifrice.

The concentration and elimination rate of triclosan in saliva was assessed as part of a six week clinical study which evaluated the antiplaque efficacy of a 0.3% triclosan/PVM/MA copolymer/NaF dentifrice. On day one of the study the concentration of triclosan in whole saliva was determined at various times after dentifrice use for both the triclosan/PVM/MA copolymer/NaF and placebo dentifrice groups. The results indicated that the salivary triclosan levels ranged from 19.7 micrograms/ml at 5 minutes to 1 microgram/ml at 2 hours after use of the 0.3% triclosan dentifrice. The triclosan elimination curve for saliva exhibited a mono-exponential decline with a half-life of 26 minutes. The plaque content of triclosan, one hour after dentifrice use, which was determined at the end of the study, was found to be relatively high (25 micrograms/g) compared to that seen in saliva at the same time (6.2 micrograms/ml). It was concluded that the 0.3% triclosan/PVM/MA copolymer/NaF test dentifrice provided effective delivery and bioavailability of the antiplaque agent, triclosan. This was based on the relatively high salivary and plaque triclosan levels observed and the concomitant reduction in plaque formation seen at the end of the study.