Gingival absorption of triclosan following topical mouthrinse application.

This study assessed the gingival uptake and urinary excretion of triclosan in dogs following topical applications of a mouthrinse containing 0.03% of triclosan. Five different phases were conducted to define the time course of plasma concentration. The effect of plaque on gingival absorption was also measured. Phase I: Animals' teeth were cleaned of plaque via scraping. Blood sampling time was 0-2 hours. Phase II: Plaque was not removed from the animals' teeth. Blood sampling time was 0-2 hours. Phase III: Plaque was not removed from the animals' teeth. Blood sampling time was 0-6 hours. Phase IV: Plaque was not removed from the animals' teeth. Blood sampling time was 0-12 hours. Phase V: Animals' teeth were cleaned of plaque via scraping. Blood sampling time was 0-12 hours. The test substance was administered to 1 male and 1 female dog in Phases I, II, IV and V, and to 1 male dog in Phase III. The same animals were used in each phase. On the first day of each phase, the animals were treated with distilled water for a 15-minute period. The animals were exposed daily to the test material for a 15-minute period during the remaining 7 days of each phase. The test material was administered using custom-made acrylic applicator trays to enclose the maxillar premolars and molars and gingiva of one-half of the upper jaw. A leak-proof seal along the mucogingival junction and palatal mucosa was established and maintained during the exposure period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Triclosan: a safety profile.

Triclosan (2, 4, 4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether), an antimicrobial agent, has been used extensively for 20 years in consumer products, principally in deodorants, soaps and other dermatological preparations. Recently, the use of triclosan has been extended to oral health care products such as dentifrices. This paper reviews safety information, both pre-clinical and clinical studies, from the literature, data submitted to the Antimicrobial I OTC Review Panel and unpublished work from the Pharmacology and Toxicology Department of the Colgate-Palmolive Company. The data spans acute, subacute, subchronic and chronic toxicity; mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproduction/teratology and pharmacokinetics. Results of these studies show that triclosan is well tolerated by a variety of species including man. In clinical studies with triclosan in solutions and dentifrices, a steady state was reached by day 7 with blood levels in the parts per billion (ppb) range and urine as the main route of excretion. Based on these studies, triclosan can be considered safe for use in dentifrice and mouthrinse products.