A Clinical Study of the Effect of Tetradecylamine on Plaque Formation

Abstract

Standardized oral hygiene procedures were employed by a group of subjects to study the effect of several materials on bacterial plaque formation. The labial surfaces of anterior teeth were given a prophylaxis at the beginning of each trial period, and plaques were disclosed with Mercurochrome at the end. The brush and paste method was found to be markedly superior to brushing with either water or medicinal paraffin oil, while a 1% soln. of tetradecylamine in medicinal paraffin was found to be almost 40% more effective in inhibiting plaque growth than brushing with paste. It would appear that an adsorbed film has been formed in the mouth which has persisted long enough to have a significant influence on the reduction in plaque growth.