Investigations and Insights in Gingival Health

One of the major innovations in dental home care therapy was the introduction of fluorides in the 1950s for the management of dental caries. Since that time, fluoride has not only been incorporated into dentifrices, but also into a variety of delivery systems. It was not until the 1990s that the next significant advance in patient home care occurred with the introduction by the Colgate-Palmolive Company of a dentifrice called Colgate Total Toothpaste. Total contains triclosan, a proven antibacterial/anti-inflammatory agent, a copolymer which enables a greater uptake and retention of triclosan to enamel and buccal epithelial cells, and sodium fluoride in a silica base. The addition of the copolymer to the dentifrice formulation provides a long-lasting effect that has been well documented. Well-designed clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Total against plaque and gingivitis, calculus, stain, malodor, and caries. This research has proven that Colgate Total is safe, not only for the oral soft tissue and teeth, but it also does not impact the microflora, either through the development of resistant strains or by shifting the oral flora to more opportunistic species. These studies are summarized later in this article.