Effect of Chewing a Calcium Supplement Before Fluoride Rinse on Salivary Fluoride

Enhancing the Fluoride Retention in the Mouth by Chewing a Calcium Supplement Before Fluoride Rinse

The anticaries effect of fluoride is through the increase in fluoride presence and retention in the oral fluids, reducing dental demineralization and enhancing remineralization. Previous studies showed that a preapplication of calcium (in a rinse) prior to administration of fluoride greatly enhances fluoride concentration in the mouth and the anticaries effect of fluoride. The hypothesis of this study is that the same can be achieved by chewing a calcium supplement prior to a fluoride rinse. The first goal is to determine if chewing these calcium supplements will increase calcium concentration in the oral fluids above baseline levels. Secondly, the calcium supplement with the highest calcium release will be tested before a fluoride rinse to assess the increased retention of fluoride in the oral fluids when compared with the fluoride rinse alone. In both parts, healthy volunteers will participate and saliva will be collected to assess calcium and fluoride concentration.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
• Reported good general health
• Reported good oral health
• Having at least 20 teeth in the mouth, being at least 4 (natural or crowned) teeth in all four quadrants of the mouth
• Having normal salivary flow rate according to direct flow rate determination methods
• Agreement to adhere to the study protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to understand and/or follow study instructions
• Hyposalivation
• Active periodontitis, identified by frequent bleeding of the gums
• Oral pain
• In need of urgent dental care