Comparative Analysis of Enamel Surface Roughness Between Herbal and Non-herbal Dentifrices: An In Vitro Study

Toothbrushing is a primary contributor to the mechanical abrasion of enamel, and the degree of surface roughness is largely influenced by the abrasive components present in toothpaste and tooth powders. The abrasivity of dentifrices is determined by the type, composition, and particle size of the abrasive agents, which vary significantly between herbal and non-herbal formulations. The present study aimed to comparatively assess the surface roughness of enamel after brushing with herbal and non-herbal toothpastes, providing insights into their relative abrasivity and potential effects on long-term enamel wear.

A total of 48 extracted premolar teeth were collected and randomly assigned into six groups. The groups included the following: Group 1 (n=8), a non-herbal toothpaste (Colgate Max Fresh, Colgate-Palmolive, New York, New York, United States); Group 2 (n=8), a non-herbal toothpaste (Pepsodent, Unilever, London, United Kingdom); Group 3 (n=8), a herbal toothpaste (Himalaya Complete Care, Himalaya Wellness Company, Karnataka, India); Group 4 (n=8), a herbal toothpaste (Dabur Meswak, Dabur India Ltd., New Delhi, India); Group 5 (n=8), a herbal tooth powder (Vicco, Vicco Labs, Maharashtra, India); and Group 6 (n=8), the control group using only distilled water. The surface roughness of the enamel in all groups was evaluated both at baseline (pre-brushing) and after a 28-day brushing regimen. Data analysis was performed using a paired t-test for intragroup comparisons and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) for intergroup comparisons to assess statistical significance.

Statistical analysis demonstrated no significant differences in the surface roughness between the pre- and post-brushing measurements in any of the experimental groups. The baseline (pre-brushing) surface roughness values did not show any statistically significant variation among the groups (p=0.145), indicating initial homogeneity. However, following the 28-day brushing period, a statistically significant difference in the mean increase in surface roughness after post-brushing was observed among the groups (p=0.032), suggesting that the abrasive effects of the different dentifrices varied, leading to measurable differences in enamel roughness. Vicco tooth powder caused the highest increase in surface roughness, while Colgate Max Fresh led to the lowest increase.

Our study highlights that while non-herbal pastes and herbal powders exhibit differential effects on enamel roughness, all tested formulations remained within safe limits for regular use. However, the significant increase in roughness with herbal tooth powder emphasizes the need for further formulation optimization to balance efficacy and enamel safety.