Caries‐preventive effect of a dentifrice containing 2% sodium monofluorophosphate in a natural fluoride area in Denmark

Abstract

A 3‐year, unsupervised, toothbrushing study with a double‐blind, controlled design was conducted to evaluate the caries‐preventive effectiveness of a 2 % sodium monofluorophosphate dentifrice among 1,407 7‐ to 12‐year‐old children residing in an optimal, natural fluoride (= 1.2–1.4 parts/106) area of Denmark. With the initial caries lesion as a differential, two levels of clinical caries diagnosis were applied in the quantitative evaluation of the effects. A comparison of the monofluorophosphate dentifrice with a null control dentifrice indicated that its use at home, coupled with regular motivation by home visitors, conferred about a 30 % reduction in dental caries increment over a 3‐year period, beyond those anticariogenic benefits assumed to have been provided by the waterborne fluoride.

Cariostatic Mechanisms of Fluorides: Clinical Observations

“…Two clinical tests of 3 years duration on schoolchildren using MFP toothpastes con taining 0.1°/o F, have given results in the range of a 30-45% reduction in DMFS [Moller et al, 1968a, b, Kinkel andRaich, 1972a, b;Kinkel et al, 1974], This benefit is of the same order as the results obtained in tests with MFP toothpastes containing about 0.25% F [Moller et al, 1968, Har greaves and Chester, 1973, Lind et al, 1974. There has been much discussion in recent years about the mechanism of MFP, particularly as to whether the low concen tration of F ions always present in MFP for mulations are the main or sole active ingre dient or whether MFP ions are taken up as such by the enamel.…”

Clinical Comparison of the Caries Inhibition of Two Mixed NaF-Na2PO3F Dentifrices Containing 1,000 and 2,500 ppm F Compared to a Conventional Na2PO3F Dentifrice Containing 1,000 ppm F: Results after Two Years

“…Six clinical trials have evaluated the ef fect of Na2P0 3F dentifrices in which the concentration of fluoride was either 2,600 ppm [Hargreaves and Chester, 1973;Lind et al, 1974Lind et al, , 1976James et al, 1977] or 1,500 ppm [Buhe et al, 1984;Cahen et al, 1982;Hanachowicz, 1984]. While each of these studies resulted in significant ben efits from the use of the higher fluoride concentration dentifrices compared to placebo controls, only one study included a conventionally formulated 1,000 ppm F dentifrice.…”

Reduced Clinical Effect of Monofluorophosphate in the Presence of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate

“…It was discussed whether this could conceivably be accounted for by the high concentration of monofluorophos phate; theoretically this could overcome an inhibiting effect of salivary phosphate on the interaction of monofluorophos phate with dental enamel [Ingram, 1973[Ingram, , 1978Lind et al, 1974;James et al, 1977], It also appears possible that toothpaste may contain ingredients which may inter fere with the clinical effect of sodium monofluorophosphate. Almost all com mercial toothpastes with monofluoro phosphate contain sodium lauryl sul phate, which is a detergent.…”