Calcium and fluoride hygiene products in remineralization of teeth enamel of young and elderly people

Background. Based on the composition of toothpaste, dentists and dental hygienists provide recommendations to patients on the choice of toothpaste, depending on the presence of dental pathology. At the same time, a comparative assessment of the use of calcium and fluoride toothpastes in adults, taking into account their age, has not yet been studied.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of tooth enamel remineralization in young and elderly patients using calcium and fluoride toothpaste.

Material and methods. The study involved 80 people, of which 40 were in the young age group (19–43 years old) and 40 were in the elderly age group (61–74 years old). Based on the purpose of the study, three research groups were formed. After the initial dental examination and professional oral hygiene, the subjects of the control group performed individual oral hygiene with their usual toothpastes. The second and third groups (young and elderly people) performed individual oral hygiene using a calcium-containing toothpaste with hydroxyapatite or a fluoride-containing toothpaste with a fluoride ion content of 1450 ppm. The functional resistance of tooth enamel was assessed twice: at the initial visit to the dentist and 45 days after the initial examination. The enamel resistance test (TER test) was used to determine the dynamics of tooth enamel resistance.

Results. It was found that patients of all groups had a high level of caries resistance during the clinical study. In young people, the effectiveness of using calcium-containing and fluoride-containing toothpaste in terms of remineralization was the same. For older people, regular use of fluoride-containing toothpaste for 45 days was 14.27% more effective than calcium-containing toothpaste.

Conclusion. The use of calcium and fluoride toothpastes by young people increases enamel mineralization by 17.54 and 15.49%, respectively, over a period of 45 days. In contrast, the use of calcium and fluoride toothpastes by older patients increases enamel mineralization by 7.24 and 21.52%, respectively, over the same period of time. For young people living in regions with low fluoride levels, it is advisable to use calcium-containing toothpastes daily. For older people, fluoride-containing toothpastes are recommended.