title: Anticariogenic potencial of acidulate solutions with low fluoride concentration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to verify the anticariogenic effect of acidulate solutions with low NaF concentration, using pH-cycling model and bovine enamel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enamel blocks were submitted to the surface microhardness (SMH) test and randomly divided in 12 experimental and one placebo groups. The blocks were submitted to pH cycling for 7 days, with daily applications once/day of 0.05% NaF and 0.1% NaF and twice/day of 0.02% NaF solutions. Four different pH: 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 were used. Next, SMH test was again used to determine the surface microhardness percentage change (%SMH). Data obtained for %SMH were homogeneous and passed through variance analyses and Tukey's test (5%) as far as fluoride concentrations and pH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that pH influenced %SMH in 0.02% NaF and 0.05% NaF solutions with pH 4.0, which had less mineral loss compared to pH 7.0 (p<0.05). The 0.02% NaF - pH 4.0, and 0.05% NaF - pH 7.0 groups showed similar results (p>0.05). A dose-response relationship was observed among the tested solutions, with better anticariogenic effect for the 0.1% NaF solution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the addition of citric acid to acidulate mouth rinses reduce mineral loss.
authors.affiliation: UNESP - São Paulo State University, School of Dentistry of Araçatuba - Department of Pediatric Dentistry, SP, Brazil. adelbem@foa.unesp.br
authors.forename: Alberto Carlos Botazzo
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Delbem
authors.forename: Gilberto Carlos
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Tiano
authors.forename: Karina Mirela Ribeiro Pinto
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Robson Frederico
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Cunha