Studies on the effect of toothpaste rinses on plaque regrowth. (II). Triclosan with and without zinc citrate formulations.

Encouraging findings have been reported for the effects of Triclosan/zinc citrate toothpastes on plaque regrowth and in some studies gingival health. To date, commercially-available toothpastes contain 0.2% Triclosan with or without 0.5% zinc citrate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects on 4-day plaque regrowth, of a number of 0.2% Triclosan toothpastes with or without zinc citrate. All of the toothpastes contained varying levels of anionic detergent sodium lauryl sulphate and were compared with a commercially available toothpaste without Triclosan or zinc citrate and a 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthrinse. The toothpastes were used as slurry twice a day and plaque regrowth scored by area and the criteria of the debris index. Plaque inhibition was significantly greater with the chlorhexidine mouthrinse than with all of the toothpastes. There were no significant differences in plaque scores between any of the toothpastes. It would appear that at the concentration of 0.2% Triclosan with or without 0.5% zinc citrate provides little if any additional benefit to plaque inhibition to that produced by a conventional toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulphate.