Effects of various organic compounds and fluoride on dental plaque and caries in rats.

This investigation measured the effect of several organic compounds on dental caries and plaque when used as oral rinses in rats. These compounds were equimolar with regard to their chloride or fluoride moieties or the added sodium fluoride (0.26 M F). Test agents were dissolved in an aqueous glycerol vehicle and applied daily to the teeth of rats. Significant restriction in the mean incidence of dental caries (greater than or equal to 20%) was imparted by the following chemicals used alone or in combination: alexidine dihydrochloride, alexidine dihydrochloride with sodium fluoride, lysine phosphate fluoride, silane polyamine fluoride, tiodonium chloride, and tiodonium chloride with sodium fluoride. Only the groups treated with alexidine chloride alone or in combination with sodium fluoride exhibited significantly less dental plaque (greater than or equal to 64%) than the rats in the placebo-treated groups.