A Study to Measure the Effect of a Toothpaste Containing Proteins and Enzymes and a Fluoride Toothpaste on Gingival Health

September 14, 2026 updated by: Unilever R&D
This study is a double-blind, randomised, parallel group efficacy study. A minimum of 240 healthy female and male participants aged 18-70 years will be enrolled onto the study according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The accepted participants will then be randomly allocated to one of the two test products which they will use at home, twice a day for the duration of the study. Dental assessments of gingival condition and plaque level will be conducted after 4, 13 and 26 weeks of product use at the study site.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
251

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • China
    • Shaanxi
      • Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, 710004
        • Hospital of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Be in good general health.
  • Be willing and physically able to carry out all study procedures.
  • Be willing and competent (verbally and cognitively) to give written informed consent and complete a medical history form.
  • Have at least 20 natural teeth without subgingival calculus including 5 teeth (excluding 3rd molars) in each quadrant, which can be assessed.
  • Have mean Gingival Index (GI) score between 1.0 and 2.0 (1.0 ≤ Mean GI ≤ 2.0) and mean Plaque Index (PI) ≥ 1.5 at screening and baseline.
  • Not have had a scale and prophylaxis in the month prior to enrolment or have one scheduled prior to the end of the study.
  • Be willing to use only the test products for 6 months, after brushing with the products on site.
  • Brush teeth twice daily (once in the morning and once at night).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant or breast feeding mothers.
  • Subjects who participated in gum health study within 3 months prior to screening.
  • Current participation in any other cosmetic trials, any dental clinical trials or clinical trials.
  • Subjects who have used gum health products in the 4 weeks prior to screening.
  • Obvious signs of untreated caries or significant periodontal disease, which in the opinion of the study dentist, will affect either the scientific validity of the study or if the participant was to participate in the study would affect their wellbeing.
  • Full or partial dentures wearers.
  • Current orthodontic treatment.
  • Smokers or those who have a recent smoking history, including e-cigarettes.
  • Diabetics.
  • Medical condition and/or regular use of any medication which might affect the outcome of the study, as determined by the study dentist, principally a course of anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial or statin drugs within 4 weeks of screening.
  • Taking dietary supplements (e.g. multivitamins, antioxidants, fish oils, etc.).
  • Vegetarians and Vegans.
  • Allergic to any ingredient of study products.
  • The subject is a Unilever employee or a member of the study team.
  • Any participant who, in the judgement of the investigator, should not participate in the study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Test toothpaste
Toothpaste containing proteins, enzymes and 1450 ppm fluoride as sodium fluoride
Other: Toothpaste containing proteins and enzymes
Toothpaste containing proteins, enzymes and 1450 ppm fluoride as sodium fluoride
Active Comparator: Negative control toothpaste
Toothpaste containing 1450 ppm fluoride as sodium fluoride
Other: Control fluoride toothpaste
Toothpaste containing sodium fluoride at 1450 ppm F

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in gingival condition as measured by Gingival Index
Time Frame: 13 weeks
The gingival condition was assessed using gingival index (GI) [1]. The scoring criteria were: 0 = Absence of inflammation; 1 = Mild inflammation - slight change in colour and little change in texture; 2 = Moderate inflammation - moderate glazing, redness, oedema, and hypertrophy (bleeding on pressure); 3 = Severe inflammation - marked redness and hypertrophy (tendency to spontaneous bleeding). Each eligible tooth was scored at six sites: facial (body, mesial, distal) and lingual (body, mesial, distal). The participant's score at each timepoint is the average of all tooth sites measured.
13 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in gingival condition as measured by Gingival Index
Time Frame: 4 weeks and 26 weeks
The gingival condition was assessed using gingival index (GI) [1]. The scoring criteria were: 0 = Absence of inflammation; 1 = Mild inflammation - slight change in colour and little change in texture; 2 = Moderate inflammation - moderate glazing, redness, oedema, and hypertrophy (bleeding on pressure); 3 = Severe inflammation - marked redness and hypertrophy (tendency to spontaneous bleeding). Each eligible tooth was scored at six sites: facial (body, mesial, distal) and lingual (body, mesial, distal). The participant's score at each timepoint is the average of all tooth sites measured.
4 weeks and 26 weeks
Change in plaque levels as measured by Modified Quigley and Hein Plaque Index
Time Frame: 4 weeks, 13 weeks and 26 weeks
Plaque was disclosed and assessed using modified Quigley and Hein plaque index (MQHPI) [2]. The scoring criteria were: 0 = No plaque; 1 = Separate flecks of plaque at the cervical margin of the tooth; 2 = A thin continuous band of plaque (up to one mm) at the cervical margin of the tooth; 3 = A band of plaque wider than one mm but covering less than 1/3 of the crown of the tooth; 4 = Plaque covering at least one-third but less than 2/3 of the crown of the tooth; 5 = Plaque covering 2/3 or more of the crown of the tooth. Each eligible tooth was scored at six sites: facial (body, mesial, distal) and lingual (body, mesial, distal). The participant's score at each timepoint is the average of all tooth sites measured.
4 weeks, 13 weeks and 26 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Unilever R&D

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 29, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 30, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 30, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 9, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 9, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 17, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 14, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • ORL-GUM-3328

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Consent was not obtained from participants for this purpose.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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