Impact of toothpaste use on the subgingival microbiome: a pilot randomized clinical trial

Abstract Background The subgingival microbiome plays a key role in the gingivitis development, but the impact of toothbrushing with toothpaste on the subgingival microbial composition is not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the microbiological safety and subgingival impact of...

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Main Authors: Margarita Iniesta, Viviane Vasconcelos, Florencia Laciar, Paula Matesanz, Mariano Sanz, David Herrera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Oral Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06159-z
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author Margarita Iniesta
Viviane Vasconcelos
Florencia Laciar
Paula Matesanz
Mariano Sanz
David Herrera
author_facet Margarita Iniesta
Viviane Vasconcelos
Florencia Laciar
Paula Matesanz
Mariano Sanz
David Herrera
author_sort Margarita Iniesta
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The subgingival microbiome plays a key role in the gingivitis development, but the impact of toothbrushing with toothpaste on the subgingival microbial composition is not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the microbiological safety and subgingival impact of a toothpaste containing CPC and cymenol, compared to a fluoride-based toothpaste, and assessed overall subgingival microbiome changes after 6 weeks of routine toothbrushing in patients with gingival inflammation. Methods A 6-week randomized clinical trial was conducted in patients with gingival inflammation allocated to the use of either a toothpaste with cetylpyridinium chloride and cymenol or a toothpaste with sodium monofluorophosphate. Subgingival samples were collected at baseline and after 6 weeks and processed using high-throughput sequencing technology (Miseq®). Diversity metrics were calculated and the microbiome composition was analyzed using PERMANOVA, ANOSIM and PERMDISP. Results A total of 116 samples from 60 patients were analyzed. No significant changes in diversity were observed in either group after 6 weeks. Among taxa with > 1% abundance, the toothpaste with cetylpyridinium chloride and cymenol exhibited a higher reduction in Aggregatibacter (p = 0.023) and a significant decrease in Fusobacterium nucleatum (p = 0.030), while the toothpaste with sodium monofluorophosphate showed a significant increase in the phylum Firmicutes (p = 0.033). The relative abundance of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Tannerella forsythia were not affected by either toothpaste (p > 0.05). Conclusions The daily use of a CPC/cymenol toothpaste was microbiologically safe, with no negative effects on the composition of the subgingival microbiome in patients with gingival inflammation, when compared to a fluoride-based toothpaste. The overall composition of the subgingival microbiome was not significantly affected by the daily use of either toothpaste after 6 weeks. In both groups, the observed changes affected mainly the low-abundance taxa. Trial registration Registration Number: ISRCTN17497809; Registration Date: 12/07/2023 (ISRCTN.org).
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spelling doaj-art-aa240a898d3447e89beece3b51246d742025-08-20T03:22:11ZengBMCBMC Oral Health1472-68312025-05-0125111210.1186/s12903-025-06159-zImpact of toothpaste use on the subgingival microbiome: a pilot randomized clinical trialMargarita Iniesta0Viviane Vasconcelos1Florencia Laciar2Paula Matesanz3Mariano Sanz4David Herrera5ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases) Research Group, School of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal S/N (Ciudad Universitaria)Department of Dental Clinic Specialties, School of Dentistry, Section of Graduate Periodontology, Complutense University of MadridDepartment of Dental Clinic Specialties, School of Dentistry, Section of Graduate Periodontology, Complutense University of MadridETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases) Research Group, School of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal S/N (Ciudad Universitaria)ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases) Research Group, School of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal S/N (Ciudad Universitaria)ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases) Research Group, School of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal S/N (Ciudad Universitaria)Abstract Background The subgingival microbiome plays a key role in the gingivitis development, but the impact of toothbrushing with toothpaste on the subgingival microbial composition is not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the microbiological safety and subgingival impact of a toothpaste containing CPC and cymenol, compared to a fluoride-based toothpaste, and assessed overall subgingival microbiome changes after 6 weeks of routine toothbrushing in patients with gingival inflammation. Methods A 6-week randomized clinical trial was conducted in patients with gingival inflammation allocated to the use of either a toothpaste with cetylpyridinium chloride and cymenol or a toothpaste with sodium monofluorophosphate. Subgingival samples were collected at baseline and after 6 weeks and processed using high-throughput sequencing technology (Miseq®). Diversity metrics were calculated and the microbiome composition was analyzed using PERMANOVA, ANOSIM and PERMDISP. Results A total of 116 samples from 60 patients were analyzed. No significant changes in diversity were observed in either group after 6 weeks. Among taxa with > 1% abundance, the toothpaste with cetylpyridinium chloride and cymenol exhibited a higher reduction in Aggregatibacter (p = 0.023) and a significant decrease in Fusobacterium nucleatum (p = 0.030), while the toothpaste with sodium monofluorophosphate showed a significant increase in the phylum Firmicutes (p = 0.033). The relative abundance of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Tannerella forsythia were not affected by either toothpaste (p > 0.05). Conclusions The daily use of a CPC/cymenol toothpaste was microbiologically safe, with no negative effects on the composition of the subgingival microbiome in patients with gingival inflammation, when compared to a fluoride-based toothpaste. The overall composition of the subgingival microbiome was not significantly affected by the daily use of either toothpaste after 6 weeks. In both groups, the observed changes affected mainly the low-abundance taxa. Trial registration Registration Number: ISRCTN17497809; Registration Date: 12/07/2023 (ISRCTN.org).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06159-zSubgingival microbiomeGingivitisToothpasteCetylpyridinium chlorideCymenol
spellingShingle Margarita Iniesta
Viviane Vasconcelos
Florencia Laciar
Paula Matesanz
Mariano Sanz
David Herrera
Impact of toothpaste use on the subgingival microbiome: a pilot randomized clinical trial
BMC Oral Health
Subgingival microbiome
Gingivitis
Toothpaste
Cetylpyridinium chloride
Cymenol
title Impact of toothpaste use on the subgingival microbiome: a pilot randomized clinical trial
title_full Impact of toothpaste use on the subgingival microbiome: a pilot randomized clinical trial
title_fullStr Impact of toothpaste use on the subgingival microbiome: a pilot randomized clinical trial
title_full_unstemmed Impact of toothpaste use on the subgingival microbiome: a pilot randomized clinical trial
title_short Impact of toothpaste use on the subgingival microbiome: a pilot randomized clinical trial
title_sort impact of toothpaste use on the subgingival microbiome a pilot randomized clinical trial
topic Subgingival microbiome
Gingivitis
Toothpaste
Cetylpyridinium chloride
Cymenol
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06159-z
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