The use of mouthwash as a complementary therapy to toothpaste reduces the demineralization of dental enamel

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro the ability of the association of media between toothpastes (TP) and mouthwashes (MW) supplemented or not with sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP), in reducing the demineralization of dental enamel.
Methods: Bovine blocks (n = 60) were selected by initial surface hardness (SHi) and divided into 5 experimental groups (n = 12): 1) Placebo dentifrice (without F/TMP); 2) TP 1100 ppm F (1100F), 3) TP 1100 ppm + MW 100 ppm F (1100F-100F), 4) TP 1100 ppm + MW 225 ppm F (1100F-225F) and 5) TP 1100 ppm F + MW 100 ppm F supplemented with 0.4% TMP (1100F-100F-TMP). The blocks were treated twice a day with TP and MW, being submitted to 5 pH cycling for 7 days. After pH cycling, the final surface hardness (SHf), the percentage of surface hardness loss (%SH) and the hardness in longitudinal section (△KHN) were determined. The data were submitted to ANOVA and Student's t (p <0.001).
Results: The blocks treated with 1100F-225F and 1100F-100F-TMP showed significantly lower %SH when compared to the other groups (p <0.001). 1100F-100F-TMP had the highest △KHN (p<0.001). The 1100F group differed statistically from the groups associated with MW (p<0.001).
Conclusions: It was concluded that the association of TP and MW produced a greater protective effect in inhibiting enamel demineralization when compared to TP, and that TMP supplementation in the MW with 100F had a greater effect than a MW with 225F. Clinical Significance: The combination of treatments may be an alternative for patients at high risk of caries.