Journal of Dental Research, Vol 67, 1257-1262, Copyright © 1988 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Comparison of fluoride concentrations in unstimulated whole saliva following the use of a fluoride dentifrice and a fluoride rinse
D. T. Zero, J. Fu, M. A. Espeland and J. D. Featherstone
Eastman Dental Center, Rochester, New York 14620.
Recent evidence has suggested that the cariostatic effects of topical
fluoride (F) are related to the presence of low concentrations of ionic F
in the oral environment. The purpose of this study was to compare the
retention of F in the oral environment over 24-hour periods after the use
of a F dentifrice or a F rinse. Groups of ten consenting adult subjects
(age 18-52 years) brushed and/or rinsed (B/R) in a standardized manner
twice per day in the morning (AM) and before bed (PM) with either a placebo
dentifrice (8 ppm F), NaF dentifrice (1100 ppm F), or NaF rinse (225 ppm
F). Experiments were performed with placebo dentifrice only (PD); F
dentifrice only (FD); F dentifrice followed by F rinse (FD/FR); placebo
dentifrice followed by F rinse (PD/FR); and F rinse followed by placebo
dentifrice (FR/PD). Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected at
baseline and then at 0, 15, 30, and 45 min, 1, 2, and 8 hr after B/R in the
AM, after B/R in the PM and upon rising the following morning. Salivary
flow rate and F were determined for each sampling interval. The results of
this study suggest that: (1) F rinse may be a more effective way of
delivering topical F than F dentifrice; (2) based on F retention, the
combination of FD/FR was not more effective than FR only (PD/FR); (3) older
individuals with gingival recession retained higher F levels; and (4)
bedtime F application resulted in longer F retention than did daytime
application, which may have important implications for enamel
remineralization.
