EFFECTS OF DAILY USE OF FLAVORED SODIUM PERBORATE AS A DENTIFRICE FOR A SIX MONTHS PERIOD

¹ Laboratories of Oral Histology and Oral Pathology, Columbia University, New York, N. Y.

The purpose of the investigation was to determine whether the prolonged use of flavored sodium perborate caused chemical burns, hairy tongue or edematous conditions of the oral mucosa. The experiment was conducted on 100 students, age range 19 to 30 years, who agreed to use sodium perborate faithfully, twice daily as a dentifrice for 6 months. The teeth were brushed and the gum massaged for a period of 1 minute as timed by a watch. All mouths were photographed in colors in order to have permanent evidence of any subsequent pathological changes; gingival biopsies of 20 and blood smears of 37 students were made. This elaborate set up was arranged in the expectation that pathological conditions would be observed as a result of the use of sodium perborate. Observations showed 4 students with lesions, suggestive of tooth brush trauma, which did not reappear when the use of sodium perborate was resumed. No pathological conditions were noted which could be defined as chemical burns of the oral mucosa, hairy tongue or edema of the mucosa. This work is being continued.

Flavored sodium perborate was not harmful to the oral mucosa of the experimental group when used as a dentifrice twice a day for an extended period.