A new study published in JDR Clinical & Translational Research shows that toothpaste containing arginine can reduce cavities in children with active decay as effectively as, or even more effectively than, toothpaste with sodium fluoride—depending on the arginine concentration.
The research was announced by the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) and the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR). Dental caries remain one of the world’s most persistent oral health problems. While fluoride is well known for its cavity-preventing properties, scientists continue to explore additional and alternative strategies for better prevention.
The trial, titled Arginine Dentifrices and Childhood Caries Prevention: A Randomized Clinical Trial, was led by Wei Lin of Sichuan University and colleagues. It was a two-year, phase III, double-blind, randomized controlled study conducted from April 15, 2019, to March 12, 2022, across three research centers in China.
The study involved 6,000 children aged 10 to 14 who had at least two active cavities. Participants were divided into three groups, each using one of the following toothpastes: 8.0% arginine, 1.5% arginine, or 0.32% sodium fluoride (NaF) as the control. Researchers measured cavity progression using standard indices—DMFS (decayed, missing, and filled surfaces) and DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth)—after two years of daily use.
Results showed that the 8.0% arginine toothpaste achieved a 26.0% reduction in DMFS scores and a 25.3% reduction in DMFT scores compared with the NaF control group. The 1.5% arginine toothpaste, however, showed no significant difference from the sodium fluoride toothpaste in either measure.
According to the authors, the findings confirm that at higher concentrations, arginine toothpaste can offer cavity protection equal to or greater than that of sodium fluoride in children with active decay.
