Toothbrushing after an erosive attack: will waiting avoid tooth wear?

Area of Science:

• Dental Science
• Biomaterials Science
• Oral Health Research

Background:

• Dental erosion is a growing concern, often exacerbated by acidic food and drink consumption.
• Prompt management of eroded tooth surfaces is crucial to prevent further damage and maintain oral health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the protective effects of human saliva on enamel against erosive tooth wear (ETW) and surface microhardness (SMH) after an erosive attack.
• To assess the influence of salivary parameters on ETW and SMH.
• To evaluate the efficacy of saliva exposure duration (up to 4 hours) on mitigating post-erosive abrasion.

Main Methods:

• Enamel samples underwent an erosive attack followed by abrasion.
• Samples were incubated in either a humid chamber or human saliva for varying durations (30 min, 2 h, 4 h).
• Surface microhardness (SMH) and erosive tooth wear (ETW) were measured before and after treatments.

Main Results:

• Erosion and abrasion significantly decreased SMH and increased ETW in all tested groups, irrespective of saliva incubation.
• Saliva exposure (30 min to 4 h) did not yield significantly different results compared to a non-saliva control group.
• Artificial saliva lacking proteins demonstrated a protective effect against erosive tooth wear, unlike human saliva.

Conclusions:

• Short-term exposure to human saliva (up to 4 hours) does not enhance surface microhardness or reduce erosive tooth wear in enamel after an erosive attack.
• The common recommendation to delay toothbrushing after an erosive event may need re-evaluation based on these findings.
• The protective properties against erosive tooth wear observed in artificial saliva suggest a role for specific salivary components, potentially proteins, in enamel protection.