Do Ginger Extract, Natural Honey and Bitter Chocolate Remineralize Enamel Surface as Fluoride Toothpastes? An Study.

Background: In recent literatures, much attention has been given to natural products for their health benefits.

Aims: In this study, the objective was to measure the efficacy of the ginger-honey-chocolate mixture as the remineralization effect has been shown in the literature previously and to evaluate the individual contributions of this mixture; ginger, natural honey, bitter chocolate separately on remineralization of initial enamel caries lesion.

Materials And Methods: All specimens were divided into eight groups as: Ginger (Arifoglu®, Turkey) in powder form, (n = 8); Ginger-Honey-Chocolate (n = 8); Natural honey (Balparmak Plateau Blossom Honey®, Turkey) (n = 9); Bitter chocolate (Nestlé®, Switzerland) (n = 8); MI Paste (GC, Japan) (n = 8); Paradontax (Sensodyne, Glaxosmithklein, USA) (n = 9); Pronamel (Sensodyne, Glaxosmithklein, USA) (n = 9); Control (n = 9) groups.

Pilot clinical study to assess caries lesion activity using quantitative light-induced fluorescence during dehydration.

This study aimed to evaluate the ability of quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) to assess caries lesion activity using visual examination (VE) as the gold standard. Twenty-four visible white spot lesions on buccal surfaces were examined from 23 children, ages 9 to 14 years. At baseline, the surface was hydrated with water, and thereafter, it was dehydrated with continuous compressed air during image acquisition.

The Featherstone laboratory pH cycling model: a prospective, multi-site validation exercise.

Purpose: To demonstrate the robustness of the Featherstone pH cycling model when tested in three independent laboratories and to evaluate the use of "non-inferiority" testing at those laboratories.

Methods: The fundamental principles for the Featherstone laboratory pH cycling model to be an appropriate alternative to animal testing is that it must demonstrate equivalent accuracy to the "Gold Standard" (rat caries model) by: (1) providing a meaningful representation of the caries process; (2) demonstrating a proportionate response to fluoride dose (or concentration); (3) being able to show that clinically proven formulations perform similarly relative to the controls; and (4) differentiating products that have attenuated fluoride activity.

Results: This cross-validation study confirmed the ability of the three independent laboratories to discriminate between various concentrations of fluoride-containing dentifrice formulations, demonstrated that clinically proven formulas perform as expected and identified an attenuated fluoride formulation (NaF/CaCO3 dentifrice - 1100 ppm NaF) as inferior compared to the 1100 ppm F (NaF/silica) positive control.

Recommendation for a non-animal alternative to rat caries testing.

Purpose: As a requirement of the Food & Drug Administration's final monograph on "Anticaries drug products for over-the-counter human use", the toothpaste industry has been conducting animal caries tests on every fluoride-containing toothpaste introduced into the U.S. market since 1996.

Identification of caries risk factors in toddlers.

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors to predict caries progression in toddlers in primary-healthcare settings for the cost-effective targeting of preventive and referral strategies. We examined 329 children (26 ± 6 mos old) twice, one year apart, in Indiana, USA. A 107-item structured interview was used to collect information from the primary caregiver and child on factors/beliefs/perceptions/behaviors that could affect caries development, transmission of bacteria, medical-dental health, and access to care.