A review of Procter & Gamble’s Crest® Pro-Health™ Clean Mint

Dental professionals continuously seek over-the-counter (OTC) products they can recommend that can enhance their patients’ compliance with at-home oral hygiene maintenance to prevent cavities, as well as prevent and improve gingival irritation.

Toothpastes are among such products and, since the first commercially available toothpaste was launched in the late 1800s, they have evolved considerably in terms of their ingredients, how they’re dispensed and their oral health benefits.

In fact, tooth brushing with dentifrices that contain fluoride is one of the most essential aspects of good oral hygiene home care. Brushing with toothpastes that contain fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay and reduce gingivitis by removing plaque, as well as cleaning and whitening the teeth by removing stains. When bacteria have access to the sugars and starches in foods and drinks, acid is produced that attacks the tooth and causes tooth decay. Dental plaque also irritates gingival tissues, leading to gingivitis and red, swollen and bleeding gums. If not reversed, periodontitis can develop.

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However, research has shown that stannous fluoride is effective in reducing dental caries, and effective in controlling gingivitis. In fact, studies have demonstrated that an advanced stannous fluoride dentifrice effectively provides reductions in gingival inflammation and gingival bleeding after two months of tooth brushing. Toothpaste containing stannous fluoride has been shown to give statistically significant plaque reductions from baseline in whole mouth, gumline, and interproximal accumulated overnight plaque after three and six weeks of brushing.

Additionally, the percent increase in surface microhardness measured on enamel surfaces after treatments with a toothpaste containing stannous fluoride was found to be significantly enhanced. Other research has also supported the use of a toothpaste containing stannous fluoride for protecting against erosion, showing results that were significantly better than a broad range of dentifrice formulations. Creating an acid-resistant barrier on enamel represents a potentially superior means for delivering protection against dietary erosive acid challenges, and research has confirmed that a toothpaste with stannous fluoride deposits a barrier layer onto the enamel surface, beginning with the first use of the product; that the barrier is enhanced with ongoing use; and that the barrier is retained on the enamel surface for hours after product use.

Therefore, to deliver an advanced over-the-counter product for preventing cavities and gingivitis, Procter & Gamble introduced Crest Pro-Health, the first and only leading dentifrice accepted by the American Dental Association to protect against sensitivity, plaque, gingivitis and cavities while also providing the benefits of whitening and fresh breath. Containing two powerful ingredients- therapeutic stannous fluoride to protect against gingivitis, plaque, cavities and sensitivity; and sodium hexametaphosphate, a stain-fighting ingredient- Crest Pro-Health toothpastes deliver comprehensive protection for patients’ teeth. 

To help encourage greater product use and patient compliance, a new addition to the Crest Pro-Health toothpastes was recently introduced in a different formulation. With a smooth, gentle foaming action, new Crest Pro-Health Clean Mint provides a great brushing experience while offering better enamel protection against acid erosion compared to regular toothpaste formulations. It contains optimized stannous fluoride for protection, as well as zinc citrate for gentle stain removal and prevention. A recent evaluation conducted by Contemporary Product Solutions solicited the opinions of dental team members after they offered the new Crest Pro-Health Clean Mint toothpaste in their practices.

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In terms of periodontal therapy home care maintenance, Crest Pro-Health Clean Mint toothpaste provides anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis benefits that can be attributed to the optimized antibacterial activity of stannous fluoride, which is more bioavailable. The anti-microbial mechanism-of-action of stannous fluoride involves killing bacteria, but its main mechanism-of-action is interfering with the metabolic activities of bacteria so that they produce less by-products, including lipopolysaccharides. This in turn leads to a reduction in bacterial proliferation and plaque.

For anticavity protection, topical fluorides as well as fluoride toothpaste are usually recommended by dental professionals for high caries risk patients. As part of good oral hygiene home care, Crest Pro-Health Clean Mint toothpaste provides patients with fluoride in a stannous fluoride formulation that has also been proven to create a protective barrier against acids as well as to reduce the level of overnight plaque on the teeth. With continued use, patients experience plaque reductions and significant reductions in gingival bleeding, and because of the enhanced anti-microbial efficacy and pleasant clean mint taste, users also notice a significant breath freshening effect.

Dental professionals use a variety of products and methods (i.e., in-office, at-home and over-the-counter) for maintenance whitening treatments. Most recommend at-home whitening products as the follow-up regimen for patients who want to maintain the shade they achieved from whitening. With Crest Pro-Health Clean Mint toothpaste, dental professionals can provide a product that can help to maintain whitening by removing stain while also improving oral health. Crest Pro-Health Clean Mint toothpaste is a good option for oral hygiene home care in periodontal maintenance and other patients, anti-cavity protection and sensitivity. 

Conclusion

Overall, Crest Pro-Health Clean Mint toothpaste is an over-the-counter toothpaste that can help patients achieve and maintain a healthier smile. Although patient acceptance and compliance can be difficult to obtain, with a pleasant-tasting dentifrice like Crest Pro-Health Clean Mint, patients can enjoy brushing and receive effective plaque removal, gingival health benefits, and excellent whitening maintenance results.

References

Faller RV, Eversole SL, Saunders-Burkhardt K. Protective benefits of a stabilised stannous-containing fluoride dentifrice against erosive acid damage.Int Dent J. 2014 Mar;64 Suppl 1:29-34.

Faller RV, Eversole SL, Yan J. Anticaries potential of a stabilized stannous-containing sodium fluoride dentifrice. Am J Dent. 2010 Sep;23 Spec No B:32B-38B.

He T, Barker ML, Biesbock AR, Sharma NC, Qaqish J, Goyal CR. Assessment of the effects of a stannous fluoride dentifrice on gingivitis in a two-month positive-controlled clinical study. J Clin Dent. 2012;23(3):80-5.

Hernández Guerrero JC, Acosta Torres S, Diaz I, Monasterios Y, He T. In-office study to evaluate the effects of a stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice and an advanced manual toothbrush regimen on gingival health and plaque accumulation in Mexican adults. Am J Dent. 2014 Dec;27(6):296-300.

Khambe D, Eversole SL, Mills T, Faller RV. Protective effects of SnF2 - Part II. Deposition and retention on pellicle-coated enamel.Int Dent J. 2014 Mar;64 Suppl 1:11-5.