THE EFFECT OF SYNTHETIC DETERGENTS ON pH CHANGES IN DENTAL PLAQUES

¹ Walter G. Zoller Memorial Dental Clinic, and the Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.

Several synthetic detergents have been tested for their ability to inhibit the pH drop which occurs in dental plaques after the application of 10 per cent glucose. It was found that a 2 minute rinse with 1:1000 solutions of cationic detergents such as Zephiran and Phemerol will inhibit the pH drops in thin plaques 60 to 90 per cent, and 40 to 60 per cent in thick plaques. The inhibitory effect of a two minute rinse of these detergents is apparent as long as 18 hours later.

The drop in pH below the so-called "critical decalcifying pH level" (5.0 to 5.5) which occurs in the controls, is prevented in most cases by the previous application of these detergent solutions.