Effects of different amounts of a low fluoride toothpaste on primary enamel lesion progression: a preliminary study using in vitro pH-cycling system

Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2007 Mar;8(1):69-73. doi: 10.1007/BF03262573.

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of pea and half-pea portions of child formula fluoride (500 ppm) toothpaste on artificially created enamel lesions in primary teeth.

Methods: Sound primary incisors were painted with nail varnish, leaving a 1 mm wide window and then placed in a demineralising solution for 96 h to produce artificial carious lesions 60-100 microm deep. The teeth were longitudinally sectioned (100 microm thick) and divided into 3 groups. Group A: treated with a pea-sized portion of a non-fluoride containing toothpaste (1:3, toothpaste: deionized water), while Groups B and C were treated with half-pea-sized and pea-sized portions of a 500 ppm fluoride containing toothpaste, respectively. The pH-cycling model was utilized for 7 days.

Results: Groups A and B lesions increased in depth by 60% while those in Group C increased by 19%. The mineral content of the surface zone decreased significantly in Groups A and B but not in Group C.

Conclusion: Reduction of the amount of fluoride toothpaste to less than a pea-size in order to minimize the risk of fluorosis should be undertaken with caution because it may compromise the cariostatic effects of the toothpaste.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Cariostatic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Dental Enamel / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Incisor
  • Microradiography
  • Sodium Fluoride / administration & dosage*
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Tooth Demineralization / drug therapy*
  • Tooth Remineralization*
  • Tooth, Deciduous / pathology
  • Toothpastes / chemistry
  • Toothpastes / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Cariostatic Agents
  • Toothpastes
  • Sodium Fluoride