Human interdental plaque-pH data and rat caries tests: results with the same substances.

Interdental plaque-pH telemetry measures, in vivo, H-ion concentration at the level of the enamel surface under an undisturbed layer of plaque. It is better suited to test non- or hypo-acidogenic products than are rat caries tests. These products can, with a very high probability, be considered non- or hypocariogenic ("safe, or friendly, for teeth"), no matter how frequently they are consumed. Plaque-pH telemetry is poorly suited for judging the effectiveness of agents directed at enamel - e.g., topical fluoride, remineralizing solutions, etc. - or agents which may have long-term effects on plaque composition. Plaque-pH telemetry is able to demonstrate the effects of different meal patterns and the form and texture of foods on oral clearance and plaque pH.