Clinical Effect of Dentifrice/Activator on Teeth Whiteness and Gingival health

Objectives:  A thirty day parallel, double-blind, four cell clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of dentifrice /activator combination upon teeth whiteness and self-perceived gingival health

Methods:  Eighty subjects were entered into the study and randomly divided into four groups based upon codes/coded products supplied by the manufacturer (Robell Research). The groups were: Group A, Test Dentifrice (Supersmile^TM) + placebo activator; Group B, Test dentifrice + activator; Group C, Control (Marketed, Fluoridated) Dentifrice + placebo activator and Group D, Control dentifrice + activator.  Color of six maxillary anterior teeth was measured by subjective (self-assessment, Variable Analogue Scale VAS) and objective colorimetric measurements (VITA Easyshade-Compact ^TM) at baseline and thirty days after product use. Each subject applied their assigned activator to their anterior teeth for thirty seconds, and then brushed with the test dentifrice applied upon dry tooth brush for two minutes. This procedure was performed 2X daily. The subjects also ranked their gingival health with a score of 0 being normal and 3 being worst.

Results:  Mean colorimeter shade changes at thirty days from baseline were:  Group A; 3.24(+/-1.56); Group B, 3.64(+/-1.80), Group C, 0.16(+/-0.95) and 0.19(+/-0.71). The VAS changes from baseline were 2.89(+/-0.99), 2.61(+/-0.98), 0.24(+/-0.56) and 0.17(+/-0.38) for Groups A, B, C and D, respectively. Statistical analysis by the t-test showed significant improvement (baseline versus thirty days) for Groups A and B (p>0.05).  For self-perceived gingival health, the mean changes at thirty days from baseline were 1.21(+/-0.71), 0.94(+/-0.80), 0.19(+/-0.53) and 0.06(+/-0.42) for groups A, B, C and D respectively. Statistical analysis by the t-test showed significant improvements for groups A and B (p>0.05).

Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that the test dentifrice with or without the activator can improve tooth color and may have a positive impact on gingival health. Supported/sponsored by Robell Research.