A Six-Week Study to Evaluate the Anticalculus Efficacy of a Chewing Gum Containing Pyrophosphate and Tripolyphosphate

Objective: A six-week, double-blind, cross-over clinical study was conducted to compare the effect of a new chewing gum containing pyrophosphate (1%) and tripolyphosphate (1%), versus a control chewing gum on supragingival calculus deposits. Methodology: Twenty-eight adult subjects (mean age 34 ± 8 years) who entered the study were given a full oral prophylaxis and were assigned to chew two pieces of gum, four times a day for five minutes. The gum, either a test chewing gum or placebo chewing gum, was randomly assigned and the subjects were directed to chew their assigned gum for six weeks. All participants also received a 12-week supply of a sodium fluoride (0.32%) dentifrice (Colgate). They were then scored for calculus deposits using the modified Volpe-Manhold Calculus Index (VMI) by the same two examiners. At the end of the first six weeks, the subjects received a second oral prophylaxis and used the alternate chewing gum for a second six-week period of time. The subjects were again scored for calculus deposits and the study was completed. Results: The results demonstrated a mean VMI of 3.65 ± 2.82 for the test group, and a mean of 4.24 ± 3.25 for the placebo group. This difference was significant with paired sample t-test (p < 0.001). Conclusion: These results indicated that chewing gum containing pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate reduced supragingival calculus formation by 13.9%, compared to the placebo chewing gum.