Effect of Listerine® on dental plaque and gingivitis

abstract — The present study was performed in 10 adults in order to evaluate the effect of an antiseptic mouthrinse (Listerine®) on the rate of dental plaque formation and gingivitis development during a 2-week period when all efforts towards active mechanical oral hygiene were withdrawn. The study was performed as a crossover study and was carried out during four consecutive 2-week periods. During the first and third periods (preparatory periods) the participants were subjected to repeated professional tooth cleanings in order to establish plaque- and gingivitis-free dentitions. During the second and fourth periods (test and control periods) the participants were not allowed to brush their teeth but rinsed their mouths three times a day with Listerine or a placebo mouthwash. Plaque Index, Gingival Index, gingival fluid flow, and crevicular leukocytes were assessed on d 0, 2, 4, 7, and 14. On d 7 and 14, dental plaque was removed from the right and left jaws respectively and the wet weights determined. The chemotactic activity elaborated by the plaques was studied in Boyden chambers. During the Listerine test period, significantly lower Plaque and Gingival Index values were scored and lower amounts of plaque could be sampled in comparison to the control period.     

Reduction of the formation of dental plaque and gingivitis in humans by crude mutanase

abstract — The effect of a Trichoderma harzianum enzyme preparation containing mutanase (α-1,3 glucan glucanohydrolase) on plaque accumulation and composition and on occurrence of gingivitis was assessed in 20 persons in a double-blind cross-over investigation. The enzyme preparation was administered in chewing gum. Two test periods of 1 week were preceded by scaling and cleansing of the teeth, oral hygiene instruction, and controlled hygiene for at least 3 weeks. Oral hygiene measures were discontinued during the test periods, while the persons chewed six pieces of chewing gum per day, one half using enzyme-containing gum, and the other half using placebo gum. The test periods were identical, only enzyme gum was used instead of placebo, or vice versa . Evaluations of plaque and gingivitis showed that less plaque had accumulated and less gingivitis developed during the enzyme than during the placebo period, but bacteriologic studies of interproximal plaque did not reveal differences that could explain the clinical findings. Treatment with the enzyme preparation caused some local side effects, but no primary skin irritation, delayed hypersensitivity, nor anti-enzyme IgE was detected in any of the persons.     

Xylitol fermentation by human dental plaque

The aim of the present study was to examine xylitol metabolism by dental plaque collected immediately after the use of xylitol gum. Plaque was collected from 12 individuals immediately before and after xylitol exposure. The effect on xylitol metabolism by dental plaque of a 3 d discontinuation of the xylitol exposure was also examined. Xylitol metabolism by the plaque suspensions was initiated by adding [¹⁴C]xylitol and analyzed by HPLC. The results showed increased xylitol metabolism after 11 wk of chewing xylitol-containing gum. The ability to metabolize xylitol was rapidly reduced after the discontinuation of the xylitol exposure. It is suggested that an induction of enzymes in one or more of the species of plaque bacteria may have caused this effect. Glucose metabolism, which also was studied in the plaque samples, was decreased after xylitol exposure, but increased again 3 d after cessation of the xylitol exposure. It is suggested that the reduced glycolysis was caused by accumulation of intracellular xylitol-5-phosphate in some plaque bacteria during the xylitol exposure.     

Inhibitory effect of benzethonium and zinc chloride mouthrinses on human dental plaque and gingivitis

Abstract In a double-blind study the plaque- and gingivitis-inhibiting capacities of three aqueous mouthrinse solutions of benzethonium chloride, zinc chloride, and benzethonium chloride combined with zinc chloride were compared to those of a placebo mouthrinse. Forty-three adults with clean teeth and healthy gingiva were randomly assigned to the treatment and control groups. All participants received an initial prophylaxis. Assessments of plaque and gingivitis were made before and after a 10-day test period. During this time the subjects suspended oral hygiene procedures and rinsed daily with 20 ml of their respective rinse solutions. According to the measurements made before and after the test period, the mouthrinse containing benzethonium chloride produced 42 to 42.9 % less plaque than any of the other three formulations. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Gingivitis scores of the four groups did not differ significantly. These findings indicate that benzethonium chloride is a moderately effective antiplaque agent.     

Effect of fluoride on gingivitis and dental caries in a preventive program based on plaque control

ABSTRACT The purpose of the investigation was to estimate the relative effect of fluoride on caries in a preventive program based on meticulous plaque control. The material consisted of 82 children; 41 in the test and 41 in the control group. At the start of the study the children were 13–14 years of age. In August 1973 an examination was performed to obtain baseline data for the trial. Prophylactic treatment was given to the children once every second week. A total of 18 treatments were given during a 10-month period. In the control group an abrasive paste was used containing 5 % sodium monofluorophosphate (Jodka Fluor Polerpasta®). In the test group an abrasive paste was used which was identical with the control paste except that it did not contain any fluoride components. Twelve months after the baseline examination the test and control groups were reexamined. The trial demonstrated that, in children, fortnightly professional cleaning of the teeth combined with meticulous toothbrushing instructions result in (1) a high standard of oral hygiene and (2) only very few new carious surfaces. Though the control group children received fortnightly topical application of F^? during the prophylactic sessions and used a fluoridated dentifrice, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding number of new carious tooth surfaces per child per year.     

Migration of leukocytes in dental pulp in response to plaque bacteria

Abstract – Cell material from three different dental plaque bacteria (Actinomyces viscosus., Streptococcus raitis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcorriiitans) were studied for their capacity to induce leukocyte migration in the dental pulp of monkeys. Altogether five animals were used to provide 123 teeth for the study. The bacterial test materials were prepared from lyophilized sonicates of pure cultures of respective bacteria mixed with crystalline bovine serum albumin (BSA) 1:1 by weight. Immediately prior to use in the experiment saline was added to render the test material into a paste-like consistency. Buccal Class V cavities were prepared in the monkey teeth leaving a thin remaining wall to the pulp. In these cavities, the test materials were enclosed for a period of 8 h. A set of control cavities received BSA alone. Placement of test and control materials were made before and after depleting the animals of serum complement by repeated injections of Cobra Venom Factor. Histologic examination of pulp tissue specimens showed that materials from two of the bacterial species (A. viscosus, Act. actinomycetemcomitans) consistently induced infiltrations of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in one to several cell layers underneath the test cavity. The material from S. irtitis seemed less potent and in 11 of 22 teeth no pulpal reaction was recorded. Inacrivation of complement with Cobra Venom Factor did not appear to affect the severity of the pulpal responses.     

Effects of supervised daily dental plaque removal by children after 3 years

The benefits of a school-based plaque removal program are presented. Children in grades 5-8 were included in a study which was designed to determine the effect on oral hygiene, gingival inflammation and dental caries of removing dental plaque through supervised daily flossing and toothbrushing in school. A fluoride-free dentifrice was used. Controls did not receive instruction in plaque removal procedures nor did they engage in plaque removal activities at school. For three school years the students in the treatment group practiced daily plaque removal, supervised by trained personnel. All participants were examined initially for plaque (PHP), gingival inflammation (DHC) and dental caries (DMFS). Girls in the treatment group showed a significant reduction (28%) in mean plaque scores and, for girls and boys, the mean changes in gingivitis scores were significantly reduced (40% and 17%, respectively). Adjusted mean incremental DMF surface scores were 13 % lower in the treatment group than in the control group. The difference between groups was not statistically significant and was accounted for entirely by the findings in mesial and distal surfaces (26%). This difference approached statistical significance (P= 0.07).     

The effect of delmopinol rinsing on dental plaque formation and gingivitis healing

The aim of this study was to investigate a possible dose-response effect of delmopinol hydrochloride, on the development of plaque and on the healing of gingivitis. 64 healthy male volunteers, aged 18-40 years with healthy gingivae and clean teeth, participated. During a 2-week period, the participants refrained from all oral hygiene and rinsed 2x daily with a placebo solution. On day 14 of the study, they received professional toothcleaning, and were randomly assigned to 4 groups. For the following 2 weeks, they rinsed 2x daily for 1 min with 10 ml of 0.05% (15 subjects), 0.1% (17) or 0.2% (16) delmopinol, respectively. 16 subjects rinsed with 0.2% chlorhexidine. No oral hygiene procedures were performed during the test period. On days 0, 14 and 28, gingival bleeding index and the presence of stainable plaque were determined. Periodic identical photographs were used for planimetric determination of buccal plaque extension. No significant difference for the reduction in gingival bleeding index was found between 0.2% delmopinol and chlorhexidine rinsing. The mean plaque index showed its most significant reduction on lingual surfaces of both upper and lower jaws when rinsing with 0.2% delmopinol. Mean plaque extension was reduced by 23% for 0.05%, 39% for 0.1% and 55% for 0.2% delmopinol. A significant dose-response effect for 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2% delmopinol was found for gingival bleeding index, plaque index and plaque extension. The results show that delmopinol favors the healing of gingivitis and reduces plaque formation.     

Partial recording of gingivitis and dental plaque in children of different ages and in young adults

In epidemiologic studies, total recordings of the amount of dental plaque and the degree of gingival inflammation tend to be too time-consuming. Various partial recording methods have accordingly been suggested. However, the validity of these methods when applied to different age groups has not been investigated sufficiently. The aim of the present study was to test whether different systems for partial recording of plaque and gingivitis can take the place of a full-mouth recording in children of different ages and in young adults. Ninety children, divided into three age groups (4-6, 7-9, 14-16 yr), and 30 adults (20-22 yr) were examined. The degree of gingival inflammation was recorded using the Gingival Index and the amount of dental plaque using the Plaque Index. Two partial recording methods were tested. One of these covered the teeth suggested by Ramfjord, modified for children with a primary dentition, and the other the front segment of the maxilla. The results were compared with those from an examination of all tooth surfaces. In all age groups excellent agreement was found between the partial recording method suggested by Ramfjord and a full-mouth recording of both the gingival state and the amount of dental plaque. Examination of the maxillary front segment was less accurate and resulted in a systematic underestimate.     

Relative effects of sucrolytic enzymes in human dental plaque

abstract – The relative effects in human dental plaque material from the three main extracellular sucrolytic enzymes from bacterial origin, invertase, dextransucrase and levansucrase, have been investigated by means of quantitative determination of products with sucrose as the substrate. Twenty young men having carious lesions and harboring plaque material on the tooth surfaces, were selected. One gram (wet weight) of plaque material was obtained and divided in five samples, 0.2 g each, for different investigations and controls. Twice as much fructan as glucan was found in plaque. Invertase activity was found to dominate sucrolysis within plaque with 99.67 % of the total activity.     

二氧化氯含漱液治疗牙龈炎、控制牙菌斑的临床效果

目的：评价二氧化氯含漱液治疗牙龈炎、控制牙菌斑的临床效果。方法：采用双盲对照方法，选择100名患有牙龈炎的17～20岁的健康男女学生作为研究对象，随机分成两组，每组50人，男女均等。实验组给以口腔爽（有效成份是二氧化氯）含漱液，对照组给以口泰含漱液，观察使用含漱液7d后两组受试者前后的牙龈指数和菌斑指数的变化，依此来评价口腔爽的临床效果。结果：使用口腔爽含漱液受试者的平均牙龈指数和菌斑指数分别减少0.66和0.91，均有统计学显著性意义（P〈0.001）；与对照组（0.64、1.06）相比，差异无显著性（P〉0.5）。结论：二氧化氯含漱液对治疗牙龈炎、控制牙菌斑有明显效果，与口泰相比无显著差异，临床上未发现任何副作用。     

Sucrolytic enzymes from human dental plaque in saliva

abstract – The total effect of sucrose-splitting activity from three sucrose metabolizing enzymes has been investigated in "resting" saliva in contact with dental plaque material in 356 military recruits. Invertase effect is defined as the splitting of sucrose into equimolar quantities of glucose and fructose, dextransucrase as a glucosyl-transferase producing glucan and free fructose, and levansucrase as a fructosyl-transferase producing fructan and free glucose. Total monohexose and glucose production as well were determined quantitatively in each subject. Monohexose production was related to specific oral conditions, and a difference in tooth decay significant at a 5% level was found between samples with high and low enzyme content. The production of free glucose was lower than that of free fructose, significant at less than a 1 % level. This may indicate that more glucose is bound to form dextran than fructose to form levan in this salivary enzyme system. In the saliva samples with a high level of enzyme content a slight increase in relative effect of dextransucrase was found. This was not statistically significant.     

Effect of chlorhexidine on dental plaque and gingivitis in mentally retarded children

ABSTRACT The purpose of the investigation was to determine the effect of chlorhexidine mouthrinses as a supplement to toothbrushing in the plaque control of mentally retarded children. Fifty-four mentally subnormal children 7–14 years of age took part in the investigation. During the first period, half of the children rinsed their mouths with 0.2 % chlorhexidine gluconate solution twice a day. The rest of the children used a placebo mouth-rinse. After an 8-week interval a “cross-over” experiment was carried out during which a 0.1 % chlorhexidine solution was used. Plaque and gingival indices were scored at the beginning of each period, after 3 weeks, and at the termination after 6 weeks. The results revealed that mouthrinses with 0.1 % as well as 0.2 % chlorhexidine gluconate reduced plaque and gingivitis in mentally retarded children. The results were statistically significant (P < 0.05) for both concentrations. Furthermore, the investigation confirmed the occurrence of certain side effects such as discoloration of teeth and tongues.     

The effect of sorbitol-containing chewing gum on the incidence of dental caries; plaque and gingivitis in Danish schoolchildren

ABSTRACT – The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of long-term systematic chewing of sugarless, sorbitol-containing chewing gum on the incidence of dental caries, plaque and gingivitis. Eight- to 12-year-old children from two schools in the town of Nörresundby, Denmark participated in the study, which took place from 1968–1970. A total of 174 children from School T were given 3 pieces of sorbitol-containing chewing gum daily (Sor-bits®, identical to Ben-bits®) to be chewed after breakfast, lunch and supper; 166 children from School K acted as a control group. After two years the caries increment in children from School T was 5.6 decayed and filled surfaces per child as compared to 6.2 in children from School K. This difference (approx. 10 %) was statistically significant. The results indicate a depression in the caries progression rate in children who have been chewing sorbitol-containing chewing gum for 2 years. On the other hand, a series of practical circumstances in connection with the planning and performance of the study would suggest that the results obtained cannot with certainty be attributed to Sor-bits alone, but only taken as an indication thereof. Chewing of Sor-bits did not cause any change in the occurrence of gingivitis and plaque.     

Effect of mechanical plaque control on development of subgingival plaque and initial gingivitis in neutropenic dogs

abstract — Histologic, histometric and morphometric investigations were performed on the gingival tissues of three neutropenic dogs. Over a period of 4 d the animals had been subjected to daily toothcleaning on the left side of both jaws, whereas plaque accumulation and subsequent gingivitis occurred on the uncleaned teeth of the right side of both jaws. Observations and data revealed that subgingival plaque had formed in both sides and extended further apically (max. 0.6 mm) on the cleaned than on the uncleaned sides. In the responding gingival tissues, leukocytes of the junctional epithelium were more numerous and blood vessels of the marginal connective tissue occupied a greater volume on the cleaned sides when compared with the uncleaned sides. It is concluded that neutrophilic granulocytes normally help to prevent bacterial invasion into the dentogingival region, and that, in the presence of subgingival plaque, toothcleaning may aggravate the inflammatory response of the gingiva.     

Effect of soluble plaque factors on inflammatory reactions in the dental pulp

abstract – The present investigation was undertaken to determine whether soluble factors from human dental plaque are capable of inducing or mediating pathological alterations in the dental pulp. The experiment was performed in three monkeys and involved 40 teeth in all: 20 test and 20 control teeth. Class V cavities were prepared on the buccal surface close to the marginal gingiva. In the test cavities an extract of human dental plaque was applied once every 5 min during an 8-h period. The cavities of the contralateral teeth were treated in an identical manner but with Ringer's solution. The animals were sacrificed 10 or 32 h after the initiation of the test. Two hours prior to sacrifice the animals were injected with colloidal carbon and then perfused with 10 % neutral buffered formalin. Histologic examination demonstrates that the pulp tissue response to topical application of a plaque extract was characterized by (1) increased degree of carbon retention — indicative of vascular exudation and (2) enhanced rate of emigration of neutrophils and monocytes.     

Experimental infective endocarditis induced by human supragingival dental plaque in rats

Human dental plaque is thought to contribute to disease, not only in the oral cavity but also at other body sites. To investigate the pathogenicity of dental plaque in tissues remote from the mouth, we examined the ability of human supragingival dental plaque to induce infective endocarditis (IE) in rats. In total, 15 out of 27 catheterized rats survived after intravenous injections with human supragingival dental plaque suspensions containing 3 x 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU) of bacterial cells. In surviving rats, infected vegetations were formed in all except one rat. The microbial composition of the infected vegetations was different from that of the respective dental plaque inocula, with Streptococcus oralis comprising the majority of the isolates. In rats affected with endocarditis, the aortic sinus was filled with fibrinous vegetation containing bacteria. Inflammatory cells infiltrated the aortic valve, the aorta adjacent to the valve, and the cardiac muscles. The inoculation of catheterized rats with a cell suspension of S. oralis isolate (5 x 10(6) CFU) was not lethal but capable of inducing endocarditis in all animals. The results suggest that if dental plaque were introduced into the bloodstream, it could serve as a potent source of bacteria causing IE in humans.     

Method for determination of invertase acitivity in homogentes of human dental plaque

Abstract – Supragingival human dental plaque was ecllected from patients with evidence of caries. The plaque was frozen and stored at-20°C. Pooled plaque was homogenized in acelate buffer pH 5.0 in an ice-water bath. By incubating the homogenate at pH 5.0 with [U-°C]-sucrose the formation fo glucose and fructose was followed. Incubation in acetate buffer at pH 5.0 eliminated the glycosyltransferase activities adn teh glycolytic pathway. Normal Michaclis-Menten kinetics were observed until about 40 mM sucrose. At highert concentration of sucrose, excess substrate inhibition occurred. Storage of the homogenate at −20° C resulted in decrease of the invertase activity with time.