The increasing prevalence of dental erosion anddental hypersensitivity has led to the emergence of more and more toothpastes in the market that claim to treat these problems. Yet none of them appear to be effective in combating this dental disease, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal Scientific Reports.
Researchers at the University of Bern in Switzerland and those at the São Paulo Research Foundation in Brazil tested 8 common toothpastes claiming to be “desensitizers” and a control toothpaste, all available in pharmacies in Europe. They also analyzed how the interactions of chemical and physical factors influenced tooth wear.
Scientists used donated human premolars for scientific research, artificial saliva, and an automatic brushing machine.
To test the effectiveness of toothpastes, tooth enamel was exposed to acidity for 5 consecutive days. Using chemical analysis, the researchers measured the pH and levels of tin, calcium, phosphate and fluoride for each toothpaste.
Tooth erosion can’t be treated with toothpaste alone
The results of the study showed that none of the nine toothpastes analyzed was able to mitigate the loss of enamel surface, a key factor in dental erosion and tooth hypersensitivity.
Patients should see a dentist, who will provide a diagnosis and advise them on the best strategy to treat each particular case.
“Toothpaste will not completely solve the problem. Tooth erosion is multifactorial. Diet is a risk factor. Food and drinks are increasingly acidic due to industrial processing, “said Samira Helena João-Souza, doctoral student at the School of Dentistry at the University of São Paulo (FO-USP) in Brazil and first author of the article.
Read also:
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Dental erosion: a disease too common among young people
