Effect of Herbal Toothpaste Versus Conventional One on Black Stains in a Group of Egyptian Children: A Randomized Controlled Study

TChildren will be enrolled in the study from the outpatient dental Clinic, Medical Centre of Excellence, National Research Centre, Egypt. After professional polishing of blacks stains subjects will be randomly assigned in two groups of equal number (n=28; subdivided to 14 in each group).

The test group will use herbal toothpaste (Dabur Red); (Garik powder (Red ochre), Pippali (Piper longum), Maricha (Piper nigrum), Sunthi (Zingiberofficinale), Tomarbeej (Zanthoxylumarmatum), Karpoor (Cinnamomumcamphora), Laungka Tail (Oil of Syzygiumaromaticum) and Pudinasatva (Menthapiperita).); the control group will use toothpaste with sodiumfluoride toothpaste (Signal). (Aqua, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Hydrated Silica, PEG-32, Zinc Citrate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Aroma, MenthaPiperita Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Fluoride, Sodium Saccharin, Glycerin, Sodium Bicarbonate, Limonene, CI 74260).

Both test and control groups will use the assigned toothpaste twice a day for 2 months. The study will be double-blinded; sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes containing the test or the control tooth paste will be prepared.

At the beginning of the study, all subjects will complete a questionnaire including questions regarding socio-demographic variables such as age and sex. Subjects with BS(test and control groups) will also asked about oral hygiene habits such as type of dental brush (manual or electric), dietary habits such as iron supplementation and type of drinking water consumed (tap or mineral water).

The test and control subjects will receive training for home dental hygiene at enrollment and will be contacted by phone every 2 weeks for 2 months to ensure adherence to the protocol and record any recurrence of black stains.