Cariostatic effects of monofluorophosphate in solutions and dentifrices in rats

The cariostatic effectiveness of dentifrices and solutions containing sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP) was evaluated in rats. In one study using 36 CARA rats, the caries inhibiting effects of sodium fluoride and MFP solutions, at equivalent soluble fluoride concentrations (750 ppm F), were compared. Both MFP and sodium fluoride significantly (p less than 0.01) reduced smooth surface caries by 78% to 81%, respectively. No significant differences between the two treatment groups were observed. In a second study, 5 dentifrices formulated with dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) abrasive and different amounts of MFP (0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 ppm F) were tested for cariostatic effects in CARA rats. Compared to the control groups, the MFP/DCPD dentifrices significantly (p less than 0.01) reduced smooth surface caries incidence by 66%, 81%, 76% and 85% at the 250, 500, 750, and 1000 ppm F concentrations, respectively. In each of the studies, both enamel fluoride content and molar surface solubility were measured. A third study assessed the compatibility of MFP with different abrasives and the effect of dentifrice composition on the release of MFP from a dentifrice slurry to a saliva phase. No differences in MFP release were observed for two different silica-based formulations which differed with respect to thickener, humectants and other ingredients.