Effect of Green Tea-Added Tablets on Volatile Sulfur-Containing Compounds in the Oral Cavity.

OBJECTIVES: A controlled, clinical, double-blind, cross-over study was conducted to assess the efficacy of sugar-free tablets containing green tea extract on oral volatile sulfur-containing compounds (VSC) versus placebo tablets for 30 minutes. METHODS: To join the study, subjects had to have at least 24 teeth, no report of oral and systemic diseases, and no removable dentures. All eligible participants had to avoid professional oral hygiene and drugs for two weeks, to not be menstruating, to avoid brushing their teeth and tongue, to not smoke, to not consume alcohol, coffee or tea, nor onion, garlic, or licorice for six hours before the test. Moreover, they had to score a level of VSC ≥ 75 ppb at the basal measurement. Subjects were entered into their respective groups after a minimum 48-hour wash-out period. The test tablet (0.7 g) contained 0.05% green tea extract (equivalent of 1 mg polyphenols for three tablets); the control tablet was identical but without the active agent. The OralChroma2™ device was utilized to evaluate VSC in the oral air. The levels were recorded at baseline, after sucking three tablets in succession, and after 30 minutes. Data were analyzed with SPSS software and significance was set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: 54 subjects completed the trial (23 men, 31 women). None reported problems linked to green tea. The mean reductions in VSC level from baseline at the end of tablet sucking were 34% (p < 0.001) in the control and 55% (p < 0.001) in the test group; after 30 minutes, reductions were 7% in the control (p = NS) and 26% (p < 0.005) in the test group. The comparisons between the two groups after baseline adjustment showed a statistically significant difference in reductions both at the end of the sucking period (p < 0.01) and after 30 minutes (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Tablets containing green tea extract can statistically significantly reduce the oral VSC levels immediately, and after 30 minutes. Moreover, the test tablets reduced oral VSC significantly more than the control tablets.

The effect of zinc lactate and magnolia bark extract added tablets on volatile sulfur-containing compounds in the oral cavity.

OBJECTIVE: A controlled, clinical, double-blind study was conducted to assess the efficacy of sugar-free tablets containing zinc lactate and magnolia bark extract (MBE) on oral volatile sulfur-containing compounds (VSC) versus placebo tablets for two hours. METHODS: In order to join the study, subjects had to have at least 24 teeth, no report of oral and systemic diseases, and no removable dentures. All 128 eligible participants had to avoid any professional oral hygiene, refrain from taking medicines for two weeks, be not menstruating, and not brush their teeth and tongue, smoke, drink alcohol, coffee or tea, eat onion, garlic, or licorice for a six-hour period before the visit and during the test. Moreover, to join the protocol, they had to show a VSC score of ≥ 75 ppb at the baseline measurement. Each qualified subject was placed in the test or the control group using a table of random numbers. The test tablet (0.7 g) contained 0.17 mg of zinc, in the form of zinc lactate, and 0.84 mg magnolia bark extract; the control tablet was identical, but without these active agents. The OralChroma2 device was utilized to evaluate total oral VSC. Their levels were recorded at baseline, after eight minutes of sucking two tablets in succession, after one hour, and after two hours. Data were analyzed with SPSS software and the level of significance was set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: One hundred subjects completed the trial (50 in the control group and 50 in the test group); 52 men and 48 women, mean age 38. None reported problems linked to zinc lactate or magnolia bark extract. The mean percentage reduction from baseline at the end of eight minutes of tablet sucking was 39% in the control group (p < 0.001) and 62% in the test group (p < 0.001); one hour later it was 6% in the control group and 30% in the test group (p < 0.001), and two hours later it was 2% in the control group and 18% in the test group (p < 0.001). The comparisons between the two groups after baseline adjustment showed a statistically significant difference in reductions of VSC between the test and the control tablets at the end of the sucking period (p < 0.01), after one hour (p < 0.001), and after two hours (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Tablets containing zinc lactate and magnolia bark extract can statistically significantly reduce the oral VSC levels for over two hours and were statistically significantly more effective than a control tablet.

The effect of zinc acetate and magnolia bark extract added to chewing gum on volatile sulfur-containing compounds in the oral cavity.

OBJECTIVE: A controlled, clinical, double-blind study was conducted to assess the efficacy of a sugar-free chewing gum containing zinc acetate and magnolia bark extract (MBE) on oral volatile sulfur-containing compounds (VSC) versus a placebo sugar-free chewing gum for two hours. METHODS: To participate in the study, subjects had to have at least 24 of their teeth, no report of oral and systemic diseases, and no removable dentures. All 168 eligible participants had to avoid any professional oral hygiene, refrain from taking medicine for two weeks, and not be menstruating. They were also instructed not to brush their teeth and tongue, smoke, drink alcohol, or eat onion, garlic, or licorice for the six-hour period before the visit and during the test. Moreover, to join the protocol, they had to show a VSC score of > or = 75 ppb at the baseline measurement. One-hundred and twenty-three subjects (67 men and 56 women, mean age 37) met the criteria at baseline and were entered into either the test or control group by assignment from a table of randomized numbers. The test chewing gum (2.23 g) contained zinc acetate 0.012% and magnolia bark extract 0.15% in weight; the control gum was equivalent without these active agents. The OralChroma device was utilized to evaluate total oral VSC. Their levels were recorded at baseline, after ten minutes of mastication, after one hour, and after two hours. Data were analyzed with SPSS software and the level of significance was set at alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: One-hundred and twenty-three subjects completed the trial (62 in the control group and 61 in the test group); none reported problems linked to zinc acetate or magnolia bark extract. The mean percentage reductions from baseline at the end of the 10-minute chewing were 31.2% in the control group (p < 0.05) and 50.9% in the test group (p < 0.05). One hour later the reductions were 6.9% in the control group and 27.6% in the test group (p < 0.05); two hours later the reductions were 2.3% in the control group and 13.6% in the test group. The comparison of the two groups after baseline adjustment showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in VSC reductions between the test and control chewing gums at the end of the mastication period and after one hour. CONCLUSION: Chewing gum containing zinc acetate and magnoliabark extract can significantly reduce the oral VSC levels for more than one hour. Moreover, the test chewing gum reduces oral VSC significantly more than a control chewing gum.

Effect on dental stain occurrence by chewing gum containing sodium tripolyphosphate--a double-blind six-week trial.

OBJECTIVE: A six-week controlled double-blind clinical study was conducted to assess and to measure the efficacy of a sugar-free chewing gum containing sodium tripolyphosphate (1%) on dental stain occurrence versus a placebo sugar-free chewing gum. METHODS: One-hundred and eleven subjects who had a Lobene Modified Index for stain extent score between 0.33 and 1.5 in their frontal teeth joined this study. Each subject entered in the test or the control group using a random table which allowed for an equal distribution of smokers and habitual tea users. Participants agreed to chew two gums (two grams each) three times per day, after meals, for ten minutes over six weeks. All received the same dentifrice containing only fluoride as the active agent. After six weeks, participants were scored for dental stain with the Lobene Modified Index. Data were scored by the same blinded operator for all measurements. Comparisons between the groups with respect to baseline scores were performed using an unpaired t-test, and inside the groups with a paired t-test (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: One-hundred and eight subjects completed the trial; three left, but none reported problems linked to sodium tripolyphosphate. The mean difference for stain extent index after the six-week trial was 0.04 (+/- 0.08) in the control group, and -0.05 (+/- 0.08) in the test group (p < 0.001). A statistically significant reduction was also reported for intensity and composite indexes. The initial mean for stain extent index in the test group was 0.8 (+/- 0.34), and at six weeks was 0.74 (+/- 0.33; p < 0.001). The initial mean for extent index in the control group was 0.78 (+/- 0.3), and at six weeks was 0.81 (+/- 0.32; p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: This trial showed a reduction in dental stain by a chewing gum containing sodium tripolyphosphate after six weeks.