Use of a whitening dentifrice for control of chlorhexidine stain.

A major drawback to clinicians prescribing and patients using chlorhexidine rinse is the development of extrinsic staining. In order to assess the effectiveness of a whitening dentifrice in controlling chlorhexidine stain, fifty-seven subjects rinsed with chlorhexidine twice daily while brushing twice daily with either fluoridated whitening or a fluoridated regular dentifrice. Stain was assessed at 1, 2, and 3 month intervals using a stain index with two components; one with parameters for color intensity and one for tooth percentage covered with stain. Facial surfaces accumulated less stain than lingual surfaces. For many, although not all surfaces, and at many, although not all time periods, the group utilizing the whitening dentifrice exhibited less staining. It is advantageous to recommend a whitening dentifrice that has demonstrated stain suppression when prescribing a chlorhexidine rinse. Improved patient satisfaction leading to increased compliance with the antimicrobial regimen is a desired outcome.