Role of xylitol-sweetenedchewing gum enriched with remineralizing agents and propolis in dentin calcium adsorption: in vitro study

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of four xylitol chewing gums enriched or not with remineralizing agents on dentin reminiralization by measuring the calcium adsorption.
Methods: Four groups of chewing gum were developed; Group1: xylitol (1.8%), Group2: xylitol + CPP-ACP (3%), Group3: xylitol + HAP (3%) and Group4: xylitol +propolis (5%).Twelve bovine anterior teeth were used and the roots were cut at the cemento-enamel junction, cleaned and cut into 2mm thick slides. After the erosive challenge using carbonated soft drink, specimens were allocated into 5 groups. Thermocycling was run in gum extracts for 20 min at 37°C three times a day during 7 days. Treatment solutions of root specimens were collected for calcium assay by complexation method.
Results: The maximum of calcium adsorption was noticed at the second day for all the treated groups as follows: group1 (0.27 μg), 2(0.27 μg), 3(0.53 μg) and 4(0.4μg). At day seven, only group 3 and group 4 still have a reminiralizing effect (0.27 and 0.14 µg)
Conclusions: All the reminiralizing agents showed an increase of dentin adsorption of calcium nevertheless coupling xylitol with hydroxyapatite or propolis showed the best results of dentin reminiralization.