Caries inhibition in rats by a sodium fluoride, tripolyphosphate toothpaste with whitening and anti-tartar properties

The anti-caries properties of a silica-based, sodium fluoride (NaF) toothpaste containing sodium tripolyphosphate (NaTPP) with tooth whitening and anti-tartar properties (Aquafresh Whitening), in specific pathogen-free Osborne-Mendel rats, were assessed in this study. A silica-based, fluoride-free placebo containing NaTPP, and a NaF-containing silica-based USP reference standard toothpaste were used as negative and positive control toothpastes, respectively. Sixty weanling rats were randomly distributed into groups of 20; all were inoculated with S. mutans 10449S, ate cariogenic diet 2000, and drank demineralized water ad libitum. Each toothpaste, packaged in coded tubes, was applied to the dentitions of the rats' teeth for one minute, twice daily on weekdays, and once daily on weekends and holidays. Both the NaF/NaTPP-containing and the NaF-containing USP standard toothpaste groups had lower total enamel caries scores (41 to 45%) than the group treated with the fluoride-free NaTPP-containing placebo. Similar dimensioned differences were evident both at smooth surface and sulcal enamel sites, and in dentinal sites. All were statistically significant at p < 0.001. There were no statistically significant differences at any tooth surface category site between the two fluoride-containing toothpastes' effects. It is thus apparent that Aquafresh Whitening has the anticaries benefit of a USP reference standard NaF toothpaste.