Antibacterial Effect and Substantivity of a New Toothpaste Formulation in Comparison to Commercial Toothpastes

Objectives: This double-blind, clinical, randomized, cross-over study evaluated the antibacterial effect and the substantivity of a new toothpaste formulation (MPE) compared to two other commercial toothpaste formulations (PAR, SIG) after a single application on established biofilm over a period of 24 hours.
Methods: Twenty-four subjects had to refrain from all oral hygiene measures for a period of 72 h in three test cycles each. After 48 h, a baseline biofilm sample was taken and vitality of the biofilm flora was examined (baseline, VF0). Then they rinsed for 1 min with one of the randomly allocated, freshly prepared toothpaste slurries (MPE: meridol^® Parodont Expert; PAR: Parodontax® toothpaste or SIG: Signal Kariesschutz Signal Kariesschutz®). Further biofilm samples were taken every second hour up to 12 h as well as 24 h after rinsing and biofilm vitality was assessed (VF2, VF4-24). After a wash out period of 4 days a new test cycle was started.
Results: All subjects (16 female, 8 male, 27.5±7.9 years) finished the three test cycles. At VF2, all products showed a significant reduction in vitality compared to VF0 (p<0.05) which could be maintained up to 12 hours. MPE showed significantly lower values compared to PAR (p<0.05), besides VF10, where all three toothpastes did not differ significantly from each other. MPE revealed values of less than 60% after 12 and 24 hours corresponding to reduction of 35% (VF12) und 27% (VF24) compared to baseline.
Conclusions: MPE toothpaste showed a significant antibacterial action on biofilm after application and a high substantivity which was maintained up to 24 hours.