Toothbrushing With Hydrogen Peroxide‐Sodium Bicarbonate Compared to Toothpowder and Water in Reducing Periodontal Pocket Suppuration and Darkfield Bacterial Counts

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Abstract
This study attempted to isolate and test the therapeutic effectiveness of toothbrushing with hydrogen peroxide‐sodium bicarbonate supplemented with scaling and systemic antibiotics. Forty‐two subjects selected for pocket suppuration were divided into two groups. Group I was treated sequentially with brushing, scaling and systemic antibiotics. Group II was treated with brushing and scaling performed concurrently. Half of each group were control subjects using an inert toothpowder. Subjects were monitored by darkfield microscopy for spirochetes and motile rods. In Group I, toothbrushing alone showed approximately a ⅓ reduction in the number of suppuration sites, no difference between experimental and control subgroups and no significant changes in the darkfield counts. Scaling, whether subsequent to the toothbrushing (Group I) or concurrent with the toothbrushing (Group II), showed a statistically significant reduction (about 70%) in the number of suppuration sites in all subgroups. Darkfield counts after scaling were reduced significantly in some subgroups but not in others. The addition of systemic antibiotics in Group I resulted in an almost total elimination of suppuration sites and spirochetes in 15 subjects, but there were no significant differences between the test and control subgroups. In both Groups I and II, neither experimental peroxide‐bicarbonate subgroup could be differentiated statistically from its toothpowder‐water control at any time.