This study aims to see how a toothpaste with arginine affects bacteria below the gum line compared to a regular fluoride toothpaste. It focuses on people with gum disease who are already getting ongoing dental care.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* How does an arginine toothpaste affect the bacteria below the gumline? * How does a fluoride toothpaste affect the bacteria below the gumline?
Participants will:
* Use fluoride toothpaste or arginine toothpaste twice daily for 6 months * After receiving the toothpaste at the baseline visit, subjects will visit the clinic at 3 months and 6 months for additional data collection.
Understands and is willing to sign an Informed Consent, approved by the local Ethics Committee.
Female or male, ages 18-95 years old (inclusive)
Systemically healthy.
Presence of at least three evaluable teeth in each quadrant.
Untreated or uncontrolled periodontitis or advanced (advanced periodontal disease (purulent exudate, tooth mobility, and/or extensive alveolar bone loss)
Antibiotics intake within the previous month.
Pregnant women and/or breastfeeding women
Any adverse medical history (controlled and uncontrolled diabetes, osteoporosis, immunosuppression…) or long-term medication (chemotherapy and immunosuppression treatment; pharmacological treatment associated with gingival overgrowth such as the use of phenytoin, phenobarbital, lamotrigine, vigabatrin, ethosuximide, topiramate, primidone, nifedipine, amlodipine, verapamil, cyclosporine) influencing gingival conditions.
Sukirth M Ganesan, BDS, PhD
Lead sponsor
University of Iowa
Sponsor institution