Mechanism of fluoride dentifrice effect on enamel demineralization.

Although the anticaries effect of fluoride (F) dentifrices is clearly established, the relative importance of F taken up by dental plaque not removed by brushing and of F products (CaF(2)-like) formed on totally cleaned enamel for the subsequent inhibition of demineralization is not known. Both effects were evaluated using conventional (1,100 microg F/g) and low-F concentration (500 microg F/g) dentifrices in a randomized, crossover, double-blind in situ study. Enamel blocks not treated or pretreated with the dentifrices to form CaF(2)-like deposits were mounted in palatal appliances in contact with a Streptococcus mutans test plaque. Volunteers brushed with non-F (negative control), low-F or conventional dentifrices and inserted the appliance in the mouth. F concentration in the fluid and solid phases of the test plaque was determined after 30 min, and a rinse with 20% sucrose solution was performed. After additional 45 min, plaque was collected and the loss of surface hardness at different test-plaque depths was measured. CaF(2)-like deposition on enamel and F taken up by plaque due to the use of F dentifrices were able to significantly increase F concentration in the fluid phase of the test plaque, but only the latter significantly reduced the loss of hardness because of the 20-30 times higher F concentration. Also, significant differences between the low-F and conventional dentifrices were observed for F on enamel, in plaque and on the subsequent loss of hardness. The results suggest that uptake of F by dental plaque not removed by brushing may be the main cause of the anticaries effect of F dentifrices.