Potassium Nitrate has been used as a desensitizing agent to treat dentinal hypersensitivity. The effectiveness of a
potassium nitrate is evaluated both in the form of a toothpaste and a mouthwash in a clinical study.
Thirty patients were assessed using evaporative stimuli and thermal stimuli and response was evaluated using Visual
Analogue Scale at baseline, at 2 weeks and 4 weeks. The patients were divided into
group I: fifteen patients who used toothpaste containing 5% potassium nitrate, sodium fluoride, xylitol and triclosan,
group II: Fifteen patients who used mouthwash containing 3% potassium nitrate, sodium fluoride, xylitol and
triclosan .
The results of both the assessment methods indicated that potassium nitrate toothpaste as well as mouthwash
showed statistically significant decrease in the sensitivity score on a Visual Analogue Scale.
This was effective in reducing the symptoms of dentinal hypersensitivity when used either as toothpaste or as a
mouthwash. But, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups, although both were effective
in the treatment of hypersensitivity
