Objective: The study aimed to analyse the impact of olive oil and an olive-oil-containing fluoridated mouthrinse on enamel and dentin erosion.
Material and methods: Bovine enamel and dentin specimens were submitted to 10 alternating demineralization and remineralization cycles each consisting of 5 min pretreatment with the test solutions, i.e. distilled water as negative control, 100% olive oil, 2% olive oil emulsion, 2% olive-oil-containing mouthrinse (Xerostom), acidic 13.2 mmol x l(-1) (250 ppm) fluoride solution as positive control, storage in artificial saliva (30 min), demineralization in citric acid (3 min, pH 2.3) and again storage in artificial saliva (60 min). Each group contained 10 enamel and dentin samples. Enamel and dentin loss was analyzed by profilometry after 10 cycles.
Results: Treatment with 100% olive oil was not effective in reducing enamel and dentin loss. Application of 2% olive oil or the olive-oil-containing mouthrinse also showed protection against erosion, but to a lesser degree compared to the positive control.
Conclusion: Olive oil offered protection against enamel and dentin erosion when applied as 2% emulsion or 2% olive-oil-containing mouthrinse, but is not effective when applied as pure oil (100%). However, 2% olive oil emulsion is less effective in reducing erosion compared to the acidic 13.2 mol x l(-1) fluoride solution.