To study the anti-caries efficacy of arginine dentifrice on early childhood caries in the rural area of Chengdu city in order to explore better early intervention measures on caries.

Two schools in Chengdu rural area were randomly chosen. Subjects were chosen according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups, the experimental group used toothpaste containing 1.5% arginine and 1450 F^- ppm, control group used toothpaste containing 1450 F^- ppm, a comprehensive inspection of the dental caries of the 2 groups of subjects were recorded. The results were recorded by EpiData software for data entry, using SPSS 13.0 statistical software analysis data.

1 years later, the prevalence, the mean decayed missing filled teeth of deciduous teeth (dmft) of the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group. The number of new dmft score (t =1.58, P = 0.001), the new decayed missing filled teeth surfaces (dmfs) number (t = 1.16, P = 0.001), The new permanent teeth DMFT number (t = 1.02, P = 0.005), new permanent teeth decay missing filling surface number (t = 1.03,P = 0.002) in the experimental group of deciduous teeth were lower than the control group. And the difference was statistically significant.

Toothpaste containing 1.5% arginine and 1450 F^- ppm is more significant on children's dental caries prevention effect compared with the toothpaste containing 1450 F^- ppm only.