Approximal fluoride concentration using different fluoridated products alone or in combination.

The aim of the present investigation was to measure the approximal fluoride (F) concentration after using different F-containing products, either alone or in combination. Ten subjects participated on a total of 17 occasions, which were randomized, distributed and divided into two trials (called trial I and trial II). The F concentration was studied after treatment with toothpicks, dental flosses, an interdental brush dipped in 0.2 or 0.32% F gels, brushing with toothpaste containing 0.32% F and a mouthrinse with 0.2% NaF solution. The results of trial I revealed that the rinsing solution resulted in the highest approximal F values, followed by toothpicks and brushing. When brushing was combined with either flossing or toothpick, the sequence order of the two methods had less influence. However, when combined with rinsing it appeared to be better to use the floss or the toothpicks first, prior to the mouthrinse. In trial II, treatment with the gels alone, and in combination with brushing, resulted in higher approximal F concentrations compared with brushing alone. The data indicate that the order of usage when combining products may be of importance when it comes to obtaining high F levels at the approximal sites and that an interdental brush with F gel after toothbrushing may be a suitable method, called 'Inter Dental Brush Gel Method', to produce elevated F concentrations at approximal sites.

Effect of fluoridated toothpicks and dental flosses on enamel and dentine and on plaque composition in situ.

The aim was to evaluate the effect of two toothpicks and two dental flosses on demineralized enamel and dentine and on plaque composition, using an in situ model with simulated approximal spaces within dentures. Fifteen subjects with full dentures were recruited and 14 completed the study. It consisted of two crossover periods, the first comparing a birch toothpick with AmF and a birch toothpick with NaF, and the second comparing a dental floss with AmF + NaF and a dental floss without F. Between these four periods, there was a control period without any approximal cleaning. In small, rectangular sample holders, one enamel and one dentine specimen were embedded, forming a triangular, approximal-like space. Two sample holders were mounted in the premolar-molar region of the upper or lower dentures. The subjects used the toothpicks or dental flosses 3 times/day for 4 weeks. The results showed that all toothpicks and dental flosses inhibited further demineralization compared to the control period (p < 0.001). The dental flosses were somewhat more effective in this respect than the toothpicks, especially in dentine. There were relatively small numerical differences between AmF and NaF toothpicks, but in favour of NaF regarding mineral gain (p < 0.05). The fluoridated floss gave somewhat less lesion depth in dentine than the non-fluoridated floss (p < 0.01). Toothpicks and flosses resulted in lower counts of microorganisms in plaque compared to the control period (p < 0.001); the AmF toothpick gave a more pronounced reduction than the NaF toothpick (p < 0.001).