The Biocompatibility of a New Erythritol-and Xyltol-Containing Fluoride Toothpaste

The basic function of toothpastes is biofilm removal in order to prevent caries and gingivitis. Toothpastes should provide maximal fluoride availability, optimal abrasivity, and ingredients that do not interfere with fluoride release but should have additional beneficial effects. Further, the effect on cells of the oral cavity is of the utmost importance. We investigated several biological parameters of a new toothpaste (AirFlow-AF) that contains fluoride, xylitol and erythritol but no sodium lauryl sulfate and compared them to commercially available toothpastes (Zendium-Ze, Sensodyne-Se, OdolMed-OM, OralB-OB). The half lethal concentration (LC50) as well as the proliferation behavior on gingival (GF), periodontal ligament (PDL), and mouse fibroblast cells (L929) were was tested. The mean LC50 values of AF on GF, PDL, and L929 were 16.2, 10.9, and 9.3, respectively. In comparison, the four other toothpastes showed mean LC50 values of 1.5 (OB), 1.2 (OM), 1.4 (Se), and 27.7 (Ze) on GF. Mean LC50 values on PDL and L929 were 1.0 and 0.2 (OB), 3.7 and 0.9 (OM), 1.2 and 0.6 (Se), and 25.4 and 5.6 (Ze), respectively. Proliferation behavior mainly confirmed the LC50 values. While cells after stimulation with AF returned to almost unimpaired proliferation behavior at 6%, cells were still strongly impaired after stimulation with all tested commercially toothpastes. AF showed high biocompatibility with different cell types.