The antimicrobial effect of a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice on oral microorganisms in vivo

Background. The authors compared the in vivo antimicrobial effects on microorganisms from dental plaque, saliva and the tongue in subjects who used a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice and a fluoride dentifrice (control). Methods. The authors assigned 15 subjects randomly to the control dentifrice or the triclosan/copolymer dentifrice for twice-daily use for one week. They collected samples of plaque, saliva and tongue scrapings six and 12 hours after the final brushing. They analyzed colony-forming units of Veillonella species, Fusobacteria species, total cultivable anaerobes and hydrogen sulfide (H ₂S)-producing bacteria. A one-week washout followed. The authors repeated the protocol with the second dentifrice. Results. The results showed no differences at baseline. Significant reductions (88 to 96 percent) in oral anaerobic bacteria were observed in the triclosan/copolymer group six and 12 hours after brushing compared with the control group (P = .001). Fusobacteria decreased by 77 to 92 percent and Veillonella decreased by 84 to 89 percent six and 12 hours after brushing in the triclosan/copolymer group versus the control group. The triclosan/copolymer group also demonstrated a significant decrease in H₂S-producing bacteria six and 12 hours after brushing (74 to 85 percent) (P = .001). Conclusions. Brushing with the triclosan/copolymer dentifrice resulted in significant reductions in microorganisms from the three sites compared with the control dentifrice. Clinical Implications. The triclosan/copolymer dentifrice produced sustained effects on oral bacteria for 12 hours.