Inhibition of root surface caries in rice rats: use of a sodium fluoride dentifrice.

A sodium fluoride-containing dentifrice (Gleem) was evaluated for its efficacy to inhibit root surface caries in the rice rat. The dentifrice was diluted 50/50 with water so that the slurry contained 500 ppm fluoride. This slurry, a solution of 5000 ppm fluoride, and demineralized water were applied to the molar teeth twice daily for 10 weeks. Another group of rats was given 50 ppm fluoride in the drinking water. There was significantly less root surface caries in all groups of rats which received fluoride than in the demineralized water control animals. However, none of the fluoride preparations inhibited the loss of alveolar bone.