Fluoride delivery in saliva measured after brushing with fluoride toothpaste

Objectives: to measure the fluoride ion concentration in saliva 12 hours after brushing with a chalk based toothpaste containing either 0.8% sodium monofluorophosphate(SMFP) or 1.1% SMFP. Methods: 50 healthy volunteers were accepted onto the study. Firstly, they used a non-fluoride toothpaste at home for 2 weeks. Then they were allocated by stratified randomization to one of the two test products which they used for 6 weeks. Subjects were asked to provide saliva samples at the start of the experimental phase (baseline), and after 3 weeks and 6 weeks of the experimental phase. On the morning of saliva sampling days, subjects were asked not to brush their teeth, eat and drink before they had provided the saliva samples. The volume of each sample was standardized as 1 ml. All samples were digested using acid phosphatase for hrdrolysis of SMFP. Then they were measured using fluoride ion-specific electrode. The fluoride level found at baseline was compared with those after use of the test toothpaste for 3 and 6 weeks.Results: In the 0.8% SMFP group, compared with the fluoride level at baseline, the level after 3 weeks promote to 236.4% and the level after 6 weeks promote to 245.7%. In the 1.1% SMFP group, the number was 337.7% and 409.2%, respectively. Conclusion: SMFP will not only promote the fluoride level in saliva, but also help to keep the fluoride concentration at a constant level. In addition, there was obvious difference between the influences of the toothpastes containing different SMFP concentration. This study was supported by UNILEVER Shanghai.