Anticaries potential of a fluoride mouthrinse evaluated in vitro by validated protocols

This blind and randomized study tested in vitro, using validated protocols, the anticaries potential of an experimental fluoride mouthrinse. One-hundred enamel slabs, half sound and half with caries-like lesions (carious), all with known surface microhardness (SMH), were submitted to 3 treatment groups: A) a placebo mouthrinse (negative control); B) a positive control mouthrinse containing 0.05% NaF; and C) an experimental formulation containing 0.05% NaF and cetylpyridinium chloride as an antibacterial substance. To evaluate the formation of F products on enamel, sound (n=10) and carious (n=10) slabs were treated with the formulations during 10 min and loosely and firmly-bound F formed in enamel were determined after extraction with alkali and acid, respectively. To evaluate the inhibition of enamel demineralization, sound enamel slabs (n=10) were treated with the mouthrinse formulations 2x/day during 1 min and subjected to a pH-cycling regimen simulating a cariogenic challenge (demineralization). To evaluate enamel remineralization, the carious slabs (n=10) were submitted to the treatments 3x/day and subjected to a pH-cycling model simulating a remineralizing condition. After 8 days, enamel SMH was determined again and the percentage of SMH loss or SMH recovery was calculated for the sound and carious slabs, respectively. The experimental formulation was superior to the negative control (p<0.05) and equivalent to the positive control (p>0.05) in the formation of F products in enamel, and in the inhibition of enamel demineralization and enhancement of remineralization. These data suggest that the tested experimental fluoride mouthrinse has anticaries potential.