Do Active Ingredients In Dentifrice Inhibit Overnight Plaque Regrowth?

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to establish, in studies with human participants, the effect of brushing with a dentifrice containing purported active-ingredients compared to a regular sodium fluoride dentifrice on the inhibition of regrowth of overnight dental plaque.
Methods: MEDLINE-PubMed and Cochrane-CENTRAL were searched, up to November 2018. The inclusion criteria were controlled clinical trials with participants aged ≥18 years in good general health. Studies were included that evaluated the effect of toothbrushing on the inhibition of overnight dental plaque regrowth with a dentifrice when an active ingredient was added compared to a common sodium fluoride dentifrice. Data were extracted from the eligible studies, the risk of bias was assessed, and a meta-analysis was performed where feasible.
Results: Independent screening of 213 unique papers resulted in 10 eligible publications that provided 14 comparisons. Stannous fluoride and triclosan dentifrices were found as the active ingredients. The descriptive analysis indicated that all, but two comparisons demonstrated an additional effect on the active-ingredient dentifrice. The meta-analysis supported and strengthened these findings. When plaque was scored digitally (DiffM -3.15, 95%CI [-4.61: -1.69], p< 0.001, prediction interval [-5.07;-1.24]), and when it was scored clinically (DiffM -0.33, 95%CI [-0.49: -0.16], p< 0.001, prediction interval [-0.87; 0.21]).

Conclusions: The results of this review demonstrate moderate-quality evidence that brushing with an active-ingredient dentifrice with stannous fluoride or triclosan does provide an added effect with respect to plaque inhibition capabilities that surpass the effect of a regular sodium fluoride dentifrice.