Effect of commercial herbal toothpastes and mouth rinses on the prevention of enamel demineralization using a microcosm biofilm model.

This work evaluated the effects of commercial toothpastes and mouth rinses containing natural/herbal agents on biofilm viability, extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production and on enamel demineralization in vitro. Microcosm biofilm was produced on bovine enamel for 5 days and treated daily with: Organico natural (R) (toothpaste/mouth rinse), Boni Natural Menta & Malaleuca (R) (toothpaste/mouth rinse), Propolis & Myrrh (R) (toothpaste), Colgate Total 12 Clean Mint (R) (toothpaste, positive control), Malvatricin (R) Plus (mouth rinse), PerioGard (R) (mouth rinse, positive control) or PBS (negative control). Tom's Propolis & Myrrh (R) and Colgate Total 12 (R) toothpastes and Malvatricin (R) Plus and PerioGard (R) mouth rinses significantly reduced biofilm viability (p < 0.05). Only PerioGard (R) had significant effects on biofilm thickness and EPS. Despite the indication that Tom's Propolis & Myrrh (R) significantly reduced lesion depth, only Colgate Total 12 (R) significantly reduced mineral loss. Malvatricin (R) Plus significantly reduced mineral loss and lesion depth, as did PerioGard (R). Some herbal products, Malvatricin (R) Plus and Tom's Propolis & Myrrh (R), showed anticaries effects.