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A prophylaxis composition containing a sodium-potassium aluminum silicate abrasive system was evaluated in the laboratory in comparison with several different commercial prophylaxis pastes. The in vitro data indicate that the new composition increases enamel polish and decreases abrasion characteristics without sacrificing cleaning efficacy when compared with the commercial products tested.

The carboxylic acids used as food acidulants were evaluated for their effect on enamel dissolution in vitro. In water, the potential of the food acids to demineralize enamel was directly proportional to their acidity. However, in a sorbitol candy, the amount of enamel dissolution was correlated with the potential of the acids to chelate calcium.

A mechanical device designed to simulate the human mastication of chewing gum was used to evaluate the enamel polish, dentin abrasion, and reduction in enamel solubility produced by several commercial gums, as well as experimental gums incorporated with various additives. The results demonstrated that this mastication device was suitable for evaluating in vitro the physical and chemical effects of chewing gums on teeth.

This one-month, unsupervised toothbrushing study investigated the amount and distribution of dental plaque on the teeth of children using either a translucent gel-dentifrice or a conventional paste-dentifrice. No significant differences in dental-plaque-scores were observed between the dentifrice groups from baseline to the end of the one-month study. However, a significant and equivalent increase in the amount of plaque was observed for both dentifrice groups over the study period, indicating a participation effect. The study further demonstrated that uninstructed children in this age-category have a significantly greater amount of plaque on the lingual surfaces than on the buccal and labial surfaces, following toothbrushing; and, in most cases, their maxillary teeth have less plaque than those of the mandible. No differences in plaque-scores between anterior and posterior teeth were observed.

This study investigated the brushing times and patterns of two groups of children who used either a translucent gel dentifrice or a conventional paste dentifrice during a one month period. The children brushed without supervision and were examined without their knowledge. Examinations after the initial use and after a month of use of the two dentifrices showed no significant differences in toothbrushing times or patterns. Also, there were no significant deviations from the baseline scores. The study further demonstrated that uninstructed children in this age category brushed their teeth for approximately one minute per brushing, but failed to brush 38% of the tooth surfaces. The lingual surfaces were the areas most often missed, whereas the buccal, labial, and mandibular occlusal surfaces were the areas brushed most thoroughly.

Changes in plaque pH were examined following ingestion of tablets composed of of sorbitol (S) or xylitol (X) combined with various levels of dextrose (D), fructose (F), or sucrose (U). Pure S and X tablets caused a slight pH rise. The 3:1 ratios of S:D,, S:F, X:D, and X:F caused slight lowerings to plaque pH means of 6.3, 6.8, 6.7, and 6.7, respectively, while 3:1 S:U caused the pH to drop to 5.6. All the 1:1, 1:3 and 0;1 ratios caused large drops in plaque pH.

A sodium-potassium aluminum silicate cleaning and polishing agent was compared with conventional prophylaxis abrasives and was found to be highly compatible with fluoride. When formulated into a fluoride prophylaxis paste, especially with stannous fluoride, a larger reduction in enamel solubility and greater fluoride uptake were obtained with representative commercial prophylaxis pastes.

The tin and fluoride concentrations in surface layers of intact enamel specimens were analytically determined after treatment with 8% SnF2 solutions at temperatures of 25, 45, 65, and 85 C. Significant increases in fluoride uptake and particularly tin uptake in enamel correlated directly with the temperature of the SnF2 treatment.