Effect of some polyvalent cations on plaque formation in vivo.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of polyvalent cations on plaque formation in a test panel of students. Heavy plaque formers were selected and plaque formation was enhanced by frequent sucrose rinses. Mouthrinses were performed twice daily with 20 mmol/l SnF2, SnCl2, AlCl3, ZnCl2 and MgCl2, and 40 mmol/l NaF and NaCl. It was found that SnF2 AND SnCl2 exhibited a marked plaque-inhibiting capacity compared with NaF or NaCl. The aluminum, zinc and magnesium salts also reduced plaque formation, although not to the same degree. Polyvalent cations may prevent plque formattion by interaction with negatively charged plaque components essential in the adsorption mechanism, or by inhibiting some enzyme activity essential in plaque formation.