Background:

Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) is a prevalent clinical condition causing sharp pain in response to various stimuli. Casein, a milk-derived protein commercially available as Tooth Mousse, has shown promise in DH treatment. This study compares the efficacy of casein-containing Tooth Mousse with commercially available cow milk in reducing DH.

Methods:

A randomized controlled trial was conducted from July to December 2018 at the Department of Operative Dentistry, Hamdard University Dental Hospital, Karachi. Using non-probability consecutive sampling, 102 patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups. Group A (n=52) used GC Tooth Mousse topically once daily before bedtime, and Group B (n=50) rinsed with 30 ml cow milk five times daily for 15 days. Pain response to thermal stimuli was recorded using a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Efficacy was defined as a reduction in VAS score by at least 2 points. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.0 with a chi-square test (p ≤ 0.05).

Results:

Mean age of participants was 55.25 ± 6.92 years, with 63.7% females. Baseline mean VAS scores were 7.52 ± 1.32 for Group A and 7.54 ± 1.34 for Group B. Post-treatment scores were 5.22 and 5.24, respectively. A total of 46 (88.5%) patients in Group A and 44 (88.0%) in Group B reported effective relief. The difference in efficacy between the two groups was statistically insignificant (p = 0.942).

Conclusion:

Cow milk demonstrated comparable efficacy to GC Tooth Mousse in reducing dentine hypersensitivity. Given its affordability and accessibility, milk presents a viable home-based alternative for managing DH.

Keywords: Dentine hypersensitivity, Casein, CPP-ACP, Tooth Mousse, Milk rinse