Effect of fluoride/essential oils-containing mouthrinse on the microhardness of demineralized bovine enamel.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the ability of a fluoride mouthrinse containing a fixed combination of essential oils (thymol, menthol, eucalyptol, and methyl salicylate) to inhibit demineralization as compared with that of a clinically established NaF rinse.


METHODS
Inhibition in sound bovine enamel to demineralization was assessed utilizing a cyclic T/R/D (treatment/remineralization/demineralization) in vitro model where Knoop microhardness was monitored over 6, 12, and 18 T/R/D cycles.


RESULTS
Both fluoride-containing mouthrinses resulted in statistically significant increase in microhardness when compared to the non-fluoride control mouthrinse, possibly demonstrating and validating the in vitro model's ability to parallel the clinically established benefit of a 0.022% NaF rinse to inhibit demineralization. In addition, the test formulation was shown to be "at least as good as" the NaF positive control in increasing enamel microhardness following each of the 6, 12, and 18 T/R/D cycles.
Yu
Duncan
D
Consumer Healthcare R&D, Pfizer, Inc., Morris Plains, NJ, USA. Duncan.yu@pfizer.com
Sipos
Tibor
T
Wu
Mei-Miau
MM
Bilbault
Thierry
T
Lynch
Michael C
MC
Naleway
Conrad
C
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005459:Fluorides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006244:Hardness; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012459:Salicylates / Q000494:pharmacology; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014089:Tooth Remineralization
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009067:Mouthwashes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D012459:Salicylates; D013729:Terpenes; C057473:Listerine; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D005459:Fluorides