Effect of a xylitol and fluoride containing toothpaste on the remineralization of human enamel in vitro

J Oral Sci. 2007 Mar;49(1):67-73. doi: 10.2334/josnusd.49.67.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a fluoride and xylitol containing toothpaste on the remineralization of human enamel using Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence (QLF). Human extracted teeth were cut longitudinally into three or four parts, and artificial subsurface lesion windows (2 mm x 3 mm) were created by immersion in demineralizing solution. Each enamel sample (n = 7) was treated for 3 min at 25 degrees C twice a day for consecutive 14 days with the slurry of a silica-based toothpaste 1) without F- and xylitol (blank), 2) with 500 ppm F- and 3) with 500 ppm F- and 5% xylitol toothpaste. In addition, we measured the remineralization ability of a commercially available toothpaste 4) with 500 ppm F-. The average fluorescence loss F (%) and lesion size (mm2) were determined with QLF. Another variable, delta Q, which was defined as the fluorescence loss integrated over the lesion size (%, mm2), was calculated. The results showed that the combination of 500 ppm F- and 5% xylitol toothpaste significantly (P < 0.05) recovered both the size and delta Q compared to the other groups. These findings suggested that inclusion of xylitol in fluoride toothpaste might be useful to enhance the remineralization in vivo.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Cariostatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Dental Caries Activity Tests
  • Drug Combinations
  • Fluorescence
  • Fluorides / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Light
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Tooth Demineralization / therapy
  • Tooth Remineralization / methods*
  • Toothpastes / chemistry
  • Toothpastes / therapeutic use*
  • Xylitol / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Cariostatic Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • Toothpastes
  • Fluorides
  • Xylitol