Publication: Periodontal Insights

March 1999

Authors: William Carl, DMD, Carrie Daly, RN, MS, Sebastiano Andreana, DDS, MS, Sebastian Ciancio, DDS, Robert E. Cohen, DDS, PhD, Russell J. Nisengard, DDS, PhD

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the clinical efficacy of a hydrogen peroxide mouth rinse, sodium bicarbonate containing Toothette® Plus swab, and a water-based mouth moisturizer on oral health of patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.

STUDY DESIGN:

Double-blind, stratified, two-treatment, parallel trial involving 48 adult volunteers at two cancer treatment centers over a four-week period.

CONTROL:

Baking soda and water rinses or lemon glycerin solution.

RESULTS:

• "Only 24% of patients in the Sage group showed tissue abnormalities compared to 44% of those in the control group."

• Mucositis Evaluation - "To summarize, in percentages, the adverse change in mucositis was 3% in the Sage group and 15% in the control group."

• Plaque Index - (Table 3)

• Gingivitis Index - (Table 4)

• Statistical Evaluation - "There was no significant difference between groups because the sample sizes differed and there was a wide variation within the subjects' responses. However, for almost all comparisons, results of evaluations using Sage products were better than those of the control group."

ADVERSE EFFECTS:

• No significant product-related adverse effects, including staining of teeth, were observed in either group.

• "The Sage group patients almost unanimously liked their product (34/35), whereas only 1 of 16 patients in the control group liked their product."

CONCLUSION/DISCUSSION:

• "Patients felt the Perox-A-Mint® solution and Toothettes® were soothing, left a clean, fresh feeling in their mouth, and helped to reduce thick ropey saliva."

• "This indicates that Sage 6000 also may be helpful in patients affected by xerostomia."

• "Sage products significantly reduced the chemical or metallic taste in the mouth due to chemotherapy, helped improve appetite and decreased a feeling of nausea in most patients."

• "The Sage 6000 kit can be recommended for safety and efficacy in patients undergoing chemotherapy and concomitant therapy."