Abstract: Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of toothpaste containing dipotassium glycyrrhizinate on inhibiting dental plaque and reducing gingival inflammation. Methods: This study used a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial method. Volunteers who met the inclusion criteria and did not meet the exclusion criteria were selected as subjects. The subjects were first subjected to supragingival scaling to remove calculus. The control group and the experimental group were set up. The experimental group used the experimental toothpaste, and the control group used the toothpaste without dipotassium glycyrrhizinate. The Quigley-Hein plaque index was examined before and 1 week after the use of the product, and the Loe-Silness gingival index and bleeding index were examined before and 1 week, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after the use of the product. Results: At baseline, there was no significant difference in plaque index, gingival index, and bleeding index between the control group and the experimental group (P>0.05). One week after the product was used, the plaque index of the experimental group was 1.51±0.46. The plaque index of the control group was 1.77±0.45, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). The gingival indexes of the experimental group at 1 week, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks were 1.26±0.26, 0.96±0.27, 0.51±0.19, and 0.32±0.25, respectively. Except for the first week, the gingival index of the experimental group was significantly different from that of the control group at the same visit point (P<0.01). The bleeding indexes of the experimental group at 1 week, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks were: 1.08±0.19, 0.96±0.17, 0.31±0.16, and 0.18±0.25, respectively. Except for the first week, the bleeding indexes of the experimental group were significantly different from those of the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion: The experimental toothpaste containing dipotassium glycyrrhizinate has the effect of inhibiting dental plaque, reducing gingival inflammation, and improving gingival bleeding.

Key words: dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, toothpaste, dental plaque, gingivitis