Efficacy of a Whitening Dentifrice on Extrinsic Tooth Stains

OBJECTIVE: A semi-urban population of Indian adults with a propensity for extrinsic tooth stain due to chewing habits, smoking, etc. participated in a clinical study to compare the extrinsic tooth stain removing efficacy of two dentifrices i.e. Colgate Ultrabrite (test) and Crest Regular (control). METHODS: Subjects from local communities were screened by the modified Lobene stain index and 140 adults (age range 18-55 years) enrolled for the study. At the baseline visit, subjects were assigned into test and control groups that were balanced for extrinsic tooth stain scores. Volunteers were instructed to brush twice daily with a randomly issued dentifrice and recalled after 4 and 8 weeks of dentifrice use to assess tooth stain. RESULTS: 125 subjects completed all phases of this parallel design study, and their results are included in this report. Mean baseline area, intensity and composite scores in the test group were 1.38, 2.46, and 63.49 respectively and were statistically similar to mean baseline scores of control group i.e. 1.40, 2.42 and 63.96 (p>0.53). Test group subjects demonstrated significant reductions in stain area, intensity and stain composite scores at the 4 and 8 week exams versus the control group (p<0.05). Mean 4-week stain area, intensity and composite scores were 1.357, 1.999 and 52.16 respectively for the test dentifrice and 1.46, 2.22 and 61.41 respectively for the control toothpaste groups. Mean final scores (8 week) for stain area, intensity and composite scores were 1.29, 1.75 and 44.27 respectively amongst the test group; 1.40, 1.96 and 52.87 respectively in control group. CONCLUSIONS: Colgate Ultrabrite was significantly more effective in reducing extrinsic tooth stains than Crest Regular at the 4 and 8 week assessments (p<0.05). This study demonstrates significantly better stain removal efficacy of Colgate Ultrabrite in a semi-urban populace with sub-optimal oral hygiene and access to oral health interventions.