Effects of sanguinaria in fluoride-containing dentifrices on the remineralisation of subsurface carious lesion in vitro

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential cariostatic benefits of dentifrice containing both fluoride (F) and sanguinaria (SG) in a silica abrasive formula using the microbial de- and re-mineralisation cycle model. Methods: Samples of bovine tooth enamel were embedded in resin, polished, exposed to a lactate carbopol buffer system for 44 hours, and divided into one control and five test groups of 12 specimens each by randomised blocks with VHN stratification. Surface microhardness was compared before and after the microbial cyclic sequences. Results: VHNs for groups treated with dentifrices containing 1,000 ppm F from MFP with or without bamboo salt (BS) were significantly higher than the control. The groups treated with dentifrices containing F from NaF/silica with or without SG had significantly higher VHNs than that with F from MFP/DCPD. The VHNs treated with dentifrice containing both NaF-SG demonstrated the highest among test groups, indicating that there may be a synergistic effect in remineralising the incipient subsurface lesion. Conclusion: The dentifrice containing both NaF and SG showed a significantly greater effect (p < 0.05) on the remineralisation of the enamel lesion than the other test dentifrices.