Effect of Different Toothbrushing Routines on Interproximal Fluoride Concentration

Area of Science:

• Dental hygiene
• Fluoride chemistry
• Oral health research

Background:

• Effective fluoride delivery is crucial for caries prevention.
• Patient adherence to toothbrushing recommendations varies.
• Optimizing toothbrushing techniques can enhance fluoride retention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate how different toothbrushing routines and toothpaste types affect interproximal fluoride concentration.
• To determine the clinical relevance of these findings for patient recommendations.
• To investigate the impact of toothpaste amount, duration, water rinsing, and toothpaste form on fluoride levels.

Main Methods:

• Eight adults participated in 8 sessions testing toothpaste amount (1-2 cm), duration (1-2 min), and water rinsing (10-20 mL).
• An additional eight adults participated in 6 sessions testing toothpaste forms (paste, gel, foam) with varying water rinsing.
• Interdental saliva samples were collected and analyzed for fluoride concentration using an ion-specific electrode.

Main Results:

• Increasing toothpaste amount by 1 cm increased fluoride concentration by 47.2%.
• Increasing brushing duration by 1 minute increased fluoride by 26.8%.
• Reducing water rinsing from 20 to 10 mL increased fluoride by 41.2%. Paste and gel forms yielded higher fluoride concentrations than foam.

Conclusions:

• Toothpaste amount, brushing duration, and water rinsing significantly influence post-brushing fluoride concentration.
• Toothpaste gel provides comparable interproximal fluoride levels to paste, despite potentially lower fluoride content.
• Clear, evidence-based advice on toothbrushing practices is essential for maximizing fluoride efficacy and patient oral health outcomes.