The effect of salt-containing dentifrices on gingival inflammation

Objective: This study examined the effect of an alkaline, salt-containing toothpaste, a toothgel of similar contents, and a conventional toothpaste on gingival inflammation. Method and materials: One hundred fifteen patients suffering from mild to moderate chronic gingivitis were enrolled in a double-blind clinical study. All subjects had at least 20 teeth, probing depths of less than 6 mm, and a sulcular bleeding index of 50% or more. At the beginning of the study period, the subjects were randomly assigned to 3 study groups. The baseline examination recorded the number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth, an approximal plaque index, a sulcular bleeding index, and the gingival index. Results: After an 8-week study period, statistically significant reductions in the plaque and bleeding indexes were observed in all 3 groups. There were no significant differences among the 3 dentifrices examined. Conclusion: The effectiveness of salt-containing dentifrices in patients with gingivitis was comparable to that of a conventional toothpaste.