Acquisition of alkali-soluble fluoride by enamel through treatment with NaF-containing toothpastes in vitro.

The first aim of the present study was to examine if alkali-soluble fluoride (calcium fluoride-like material and adsorbed fluoride) forms when a NaF-containing toothpaste is applied on human enamel surface in vitro. The centrifuged supernatants of toothpastes dissolved in distilled water were used and four different commercial NaF-containing toothpastes were tested. The second aim was to investigate if pyrophosphate would interfere with the deposition of alkali soluble fluoride. The formation of alkali-soluble fluoride was determined by chemical analysis and visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was ascertained that all tested toothpastes contained free fluoride according to the manufacturers' specifications. It was shown that they promoted deposition of alkali soluble fluoride on the enamel surface. The amount of deposited material increased with the time of exposure. The clinical effect of a NaF-containing toothpaste may thus well depend on an initial formation of alkali-soluble fluoride. Fluoride from this reservoir may adsorb onto the enamel crystals and inhibit further demineralization or increase the rate of remineralization during cariogenic challenges. It was also demonstrated that pyrophosphate did not interfere with the deposition of alkali soluble fluoride.