Persica Chewing Gum Effects on Saliva Fluoride Concentration and Flow Rate: A Triple-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

CONTEXT

Dental caries is a prevalent disease worldwide. or Miswak could be a source of fluoride and has caries preventive effects.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to compare saliva fluoride concentration and flow rate after using Persica and sodium fluoride chewing gums.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

In a triple-blind crossover randomized trial, 44 healthy volunteers (21-25 year old) were recruited according to the inclusion criteria and were randomly allocated into two groups (22 each).

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

This study was performed within two sets of trial with a 10-day washout period. Participants (subjects) were followed a running period and matched for trial confounders. Saliva samples were collected under controlled conditions at similar time (11 am) within baseline, 5, 10, 20, and 45 min intervals preceded by 5-min chewing of Persica or sodium fluoride chewing gum. Saliva samples were analyzed for fluoride ion using hexamethyldisiloxane diffusion method.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Saliva flow rate (ml/min) and mean fluoride concentration (ppm) during different time periods in two types of gum were compared using ANOVA-repeated measures ( < 0.05).

RESULTS

The difference in total means of stimulated saliva flow rates between two Persica and sodium fluoride gum intervention groups was statistically significant ( = 0.048); however, difference of fluoride concentrations was not statistically significant ( = 0.244).

CONCLUSIONS

Chewing Persica containing gum released fluoride ions in saliva and increased saliva flow rate comparable with sodium fluoride chewing gum use as a gold standard.