Plaque growth-inhibiting effects of an abrasive fluoride-chlorhexidine toothpaste and a fluoride toothpaste containing oxidative enzymes.

The aim of this 4 times cross-over double-blind clinical trial was to test the plaque-inhibiting effect of 2 fluoride-containing toothpastes. One toothpaste contained 0.8% chlorhexidine together with amine fluoride (0.1% F degrees) and a suitable abrasive agent. The other contained 1.7 U/g glucose oxidase and 8.0 U/g amyloglucosidase, added to an amine fluoride (0.1% F degrees) toothpaste. 1% Hibitane dental gel was used as a positive and a conventional fluoride toothpaste (Vademecum MFP Fluor) as a negative control. 9 dental students, in a randomized sequence, applied the 4 dentifrices twice daily from Monday afternoon to Friday morning with cap splints, designed to cover the teeth and about 2 mm of gingiva. No other oral hygiene measures were allowed during the 4 test periods. On Fridays, the teeth were cleaned professionally and good oral hygiene was maintained during the week-ends. At the beginning and at the end of each test period, per student plaque thickness was recorded using the plaque index, the visible plaque index, and plaque fresh weight as parameters, and the area of plaque as related to the area of the tooth surface was recorded planimetrically and according to the PLQ index. The best plaque growth-inhibiting effect was recorded for the positive control (CHX) with the test chlorhexidine toothpaste (TX) as next best. The enzyme-containing toothpaste (TE) did not differ significantly from the negative control (C). All the significant differences in anti-plaque effect between the 4 toothpastes were obtained by recordings of plaque thickness and none on the basis of area of plaque.