Summary
This in vitro study investigated how well a fluoride-containing bioactive glass toothpaste (BioMin F) can remineralize tooth enamel after artificial demineralization – compared to a classic fluoride toothpaste and to distilled water.
Objective
The aim was to determine whether BioMin F strengthens, smooths, and remineralizes enamel more effectively than conventional fluoride toothpaste.
Method
- 72 enamel samples from extracted premolars
- artificial demineralization with citric acid
- subsequently simulated brushing with:
- distilled water
- fluoride toothpaste (Colgate)
- BioMin F
- Investigation with:
- Micro-hardness test (Vickers hardness)
- Profilometry for surface roughness
- Micro-CT for volume analysis
Results
BioMin F performed best in all key parameters:
- strongest increase in enamel hardness
- most significant decrease in surface roughness
- best volumetric restoration of enamel
Specifically, BioMin F showed:
- a significantly greater increase in micro-hardness than conventional fluoride toothpaste
- a smoother surface after treatment
- more evidence of remineralization in micro-CT
Why BioMin F performed better
The authors attribute this to bioactive glass technology. BioMin F not only releases fluoride, but also calcium and phosphate. These ions together can form a stable fluorapatite layer that is more acid-resistant than conventional enamel.
Another advantage:
- the fluoride is incorporated into the glass
- thus it is released more slowly and for longer
- in contrast to classic toothpaste, whose fluoride is rinsed away faster
Limitations
- pure laboratory study
- oral conditions such as salivary flow, biofilm, and chewing stress could only be simulated to a limited extent
- the volume differences in micro-CT were in favor of BioMin F, but not statistically significant
Conclusion
BioMin F showed better enamel remineralization than a conventional fluoride toothpaste in this study.
The enamel became harder, smoother, and its structure was better restored. The results suggest that fluoride-containing bioactive glass is a promising approach for the non-invasive protection and restoration of tooth enamel.