Protective benefits of a stabilised stannous-containing fluoride dentifrice against erosive acid damage

PurposeTo assess the potential of a stabilised stannous (Sn)-containing NaF dentifrice (Oral B/blend-a-Med((R)) Pro-Expert), in addition to a number of other marketed European dentifrices formulated with various fluoride actives and two control dentifrices, to protect enamel against erosive acid damage.MethodsCores of human enamel (four per group) were soaked in pooled human saliva, and then treated with a 1:3 slurry (dentifrice:saliva) using a standardised in vitro erosion model (5-day cycling) that includes 10-minute challenges with 1% citric acid applied 60minutes after each dentifrice treatment. Enamel surface loss was measured using transverse microradiography (TMR).ResultsSpecimens treated with the Sn-containing NaF dentifrice showed 6.5 mu m of surface loss +/- 1.2 (SEM), which was not significantly different (P<0.05, Fisher LSD) from that of a clinically proven, stabilised SnF2 positive control [Crest((R)) Pro-Health, 1,100ppm F as SnF2: 3.0 mu m of surface loss +/- 1.1 (SEM)]. The Sn-containing NaF dentifrice and the clinically proven positive control both provided significantly greater protection (P<0.05, Fisher LSD) compared with all of the other products tested. Enamel loss (SEM) values for other European products and the reference control (active agents) were: Meridol((R)): (1,400ppm F as AmF+SnF2) 12.0 mu m (1.47); Colgate((R)) Cavity Protection: (1,450ppm F as SMFP+NaF) 12.9 mu m (1.66); Odol med 3((R)) (1,400ppm F as NaF) 14.2 mu m (1.49); Elmex((R)) (1,400ppm F as AmF) 14.5 mu m (1.76); Colgate((R)) Enamel Protect: (1,450ppm F as NaF+KNO3) 16.3 mu m (2.02); Lacalut((R)) aktiv: (1,400ppm F as AlF3) 18.5 mu m (1.71); Sensodyne((R)) ProNamel((TM)): (1,450ppm F as NaF+KNO3) 20.5 mu m (1.26); Crest Cavity Protection (1,100ppm F as NaF, reference control) 22.00 mu m (2.04); and Mentadent((R)): (1,450ppm F as NaF+Zn citrate) 22.3 mu m (0.63).ConclusionThese results support the potential for the stabilised, Sn-containing NaF dentifrice to provide erosion protection benefits that are not significantly different from the positive control benchmark for erosion protection (stabilised SnF2), and are significantly better than a broad range of dentifrice formulations available on the European market.