The material could help fight tooth decay in the future (image: Gerd Altmann/Pixabay)

Published on 10/23/2024

Agência FAPESP* – Tooth demineralization is a major health problem whose main cause is poor oral hygiene and the consequent accumulation of bacterial plaque on the teeth. It is a progressive process that, if left untreated, can lead to more serious complications such as infections and tooth loss.

In an article published in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, Brazilian researchers presented promising results for a toothpaste supplemented with calcium and fluoride nanoparticles to combat enamel demineralization.

The work involved scientists from the Center for the Development of Functional Materials (CDMF), the School of Dentistry of São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba campus, and the University of Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP). The CDMF is a FAPESP Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center (RIDC) based at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar).

The aim of the group was to evaluate in vitro the effect of toothpastes supplemented with β-calcium glycerophosphate (β-CaGP) and fluoride (F) – at different concentrations – on enamel demineralization. Bovine incisors were used as a model. The supplemented material performed better than ordinary toothpastes and could be an important formulation to be used in the future by patients at risk of dental caries.

The article “Effect of nanometric β-calcium glycerophosphate supplementation in conventional toothpaste on enamel demineralization: An in vitro study” is available at: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1751616123007087?via%3Dihub.

* With information from the CDMF.

Source: https://agencia.fapesp.br/53124