Does Sensodyne Total Care Toothpaste remove plaque, protect against tooth decay and help sensitive gums?

Question

As shown in the toothpaste cover:

It is mentioned that using Sensodyne Total Care toothpaste can do the following:

Protects against sensitive teeth

Protects against tooth decay

Removes plaque

Helps maintain healthy gums

24/7 Sensitivity Protection

We have an existing question that addresses the first and last claims: Does Sensodyne Toothpaste reduce teeth sensitivity?

Does Sensodyne remove plaque, protect against tooth decay and help sensitive gums?

Answer 1

Yes, Sensodyne Total Care toothpaste may work as mentioned on its cover based on the ingredients present such as Potassium Nitrate 5.0% w/w and Sodium Fluoride 0.306% w/w.

Per the Sensodyne Total Care F product information, the pharmacodynamic properties of Sensodyne Total Care Toothpaste are based on "the antibacterial formulation contains potassium ions which are thought to reduce hypersensitivity by interfering with pulpal nerve conduction. With twice daily tooth brushing, Sensodyne Total Care F Toothpaste delivers the regular doses of potassium ions required to build up and then maintain its depolarising activity, thereby providing ongoing protection from, and prevention of dentinal hypersensitivity. Once regular use is discontinued, the desensitising activity of the potassium ions within the dentine tubules will slowly be lost and sensitivity pain will return."

Per study 'Desensitizing toothpaste versus placebo for dentin hypersensitivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis' by Ji-Hyun Bae et. al 2015 assessing the effect of desensitizing toothpaste on dentin hypersensitivity, the conclusions were

The study reports that there is sufficient evidence to support the use of potassium-, stannous fluoride-, potassium and stannous fluoride-, calcium sodium phosphosilicate-, and arginine-containing desensitizing toothpastes for dentin hypersensitivity, but not the use of strontium-containing desensitizing toothpaste.

Sensodyne Total Care toothpaste also contains sodium fluoride which is an established anticaries agent. Fluoride Recommendations Work Group states "Cariogenic bacteria (i.e., bacteria that cause dental caries) reside in dental plaque, a sticky organic matrix of bacteria, food debris, dead mucosal cells, and salivary components that adheres to tooth enamel. Plaque also contains minerals, primarily calcium and phosphorus, as well as proteins, polysaccharides, carbohydrates, and lipids. Fluoride concentrated in plaque and saliva inhibits the demineralization of sound enamel and enhances the remineralization of demineralized enamel. Fluoride also inhibits dental caries by affecting the activity of cariogenic bacteria. Adults also benefit from fluoride, rather than only children, as was previously assumed."

Per American Dental Association ADA, "a fluoride toothpaste helps remove plaque, a film of bacteria that forms on teeth and gums every day. Plaque can cause gum disease and tooth decay. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel. All ADA-Accepted toothpastes contain fluoride".

However per systematic review of selected desensitizing OTC Products by E. Talioti et. al in 2014 "to determine whether there was any evidence on the clinical effectiveness of selected desensitizing toothpastes, calcium sodium phosphosilicate (CSPS), amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), nanohydroxyapatite, and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (tooth mousse) on reducing dentine hypersensitivity (DH)" the conclusions were,

Due to the small number of included studies, there are limited clinical data to support any claims of clinical efficacy of these OTC products. Further studies are therefore required to determine the efficacy of these products in well-controlled RCT studies with a larger sample size.