Incidence of stained tooth surfaces in students using chlorhexidine‐containing dentifrices

Previous clinical studies have shown that chlorhexidine may cause brownish discoloration of tooth surfaces. In a longitudinal periodontitis and caries experiment evaluating the effectiveness of dentifrice as a vehicle for chlorhexidine, the frequency of discoloration has been studied by a microphotometric technique. The present study indicates a definite correlation between brownish discoloration on tooth surfaces and the use of chlorhexidine‐containing dentifrices. Furthermore, the results of this investigation indicate that the discoloration may be influenced by the degree of abrasiveness of the dentifrice.