THE INFLUENCE OF XYLITOL AND FLUORIDE ON DENTAL EROSION IN-VITRO

The aim was to determine the effect of xylitol, fluoride and xylitol/f luoride combined on the erosion of dental enamel by pure orange juice in vitro. Freshly extracted bovine incisors were sectioned vertically into four equal por portions. Each portion was then coated with an aci d-resistant nail varnish except for an enamel window on the labial sur face of the tooth. These were then divided into four groups with each group containing one portion of each tooth selected randomly. Four ero sive agents were prepared as follows: CA) pure orange juice only; pure orange juice plus either (B) xylitol (25% w/v) or (C) fluoride (0.5 p arts/10(6)) or (D) xylitol/fluoride (25% and 0.5 parts/10(6) respectiv ely). Each group was assigned to one of the erosive agents and immerse d six times daily for a period of 5 min on each occasion, and stored i n artificial saliva between exposures and for 12 hr overnight, for 24 days making a total of 12 hr of exposure to the assigned erosive agent . Sections were cut from each enamel specimen, ground to a thickness o f 80 mu m, and microradiographed. Mineral loss was quantified by a two -step image analysis. Mineral loss was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in group D (xylitol/fluoride) only when compared with group A (pure or ange juice only). The numerical values of mineral loss could be ranked as follows: group D < group C < group B < group A. It was concluded t hat xylitol and fluoride have an additive effect in the reduction of d ental erosion by pure orange juice in vitro. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.