Effect of copper fluoride and copper sulfate on dental plaque, Streptococcus mutans and caries in hamsters.

Topical applications of 10 mM CuF2, 10 mM CuSO4, or 20 mM NaF solutions were performed twice a day in hamsters infected with S. mutans and maintained on a high sucrose diet. Animals receiving the copper compounds exhibited lower plaque scores than control animals or animals treated with the NaF solution. The group receiving the CuF2 solution showed a lower number of S. mutans and a higher caries reduction than the groups treated with NaF or the non-fluoride compound CuSO4.