Experimental toothpastes containing ß-TCP nanoparticles functionalized with fluoride and tin to prevent Erosive Tooth Wear.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to synthesize toothpastes containing Beta- TriCalcium Phosphate (ß-TCP) nanoparticles, functionalized with fluoride and tin, and test their ability to reduce erosive tooth wear (ETW). METHODS: Toothpastes were synthesized with the following active ingredients: 1100 ppm of fluoride (as sodium fluoride, F-), 3500 ppm of tin (as stannous chloride, Sn2+), and 800 ppm of ß-TCP (Sizes a - 20 nm; and b - 100 nm). Enamel specimens were randomly assigned into the following groups (n=10): 1. Commercial toothpaste; 2. Placebo; 3 F-; 4. F- + ß-TCPa; 5. F- + ß-TCPb; 6. F- + Sn2+; 7. F- + Sn2+ + ß-TCPa and 8. F- + Sn2+ + ß-TCPb. Specimens were subjected to erosion-abrasion cycling. Surface loss (in µm) was measured by optical profilometry. Toothpastes pH and available F- were also assessed. RESULTS: Brushing with placebo toothpaste resulted in higher surface loss than brushing with F- (p=0.005) and F- + ß-TCPb (p=0.007); however, there was no difference between F- and F- + ß-TCPb (p=1.00). Commercial toothpaste showed no difference from Placebo (p=0.279). The groups F-, F- + ß-TCPa, F- + ß-TCPb, F- + Sn2+, F- + Sn2+ + ß-TCPa and F- + Sn2+ + ß-TCPb were not different from the commercial toothpaste (p>0.05). Overall, the addition of ß-TCP reduced the amount of available fluoride in the experimental toothpastes. The pH of toothpastes ranged from 4.97 to 6.49. CONCLUSIONS: Although toothpaste containing ß-TCP nanoparticles protected enamel against dental erosion-abrasion, this effect was not superior to the standard fluoride toothpaste (commercial). In addition, the functionalization of ß-TCP nanoparticles with fluoride and tin did not enhance their protective effect. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Although ß-TCP nanoparticles have some potential to control Erosive Tooth Wear, their incorporation into an experimental toothpaste appears to have a protective effect that is similar to a commercial fluoride toothpaste.

Activated charcoal toothpastes do not increase erosive tooth wear.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of activated charcoal toothpastes on enamel and dentin erosive wear. METHODS: Ninety enamel and dentin slabs were randomly distributed into 9 experimental groups (n = 10/substrate): Artificial saliva (negative control); Elmex Caries (EXC - 1400 ppm F- as AmF, reference toothpaste without charcoal); Colgate Luminous White Activated Charcoal (CLW - 1000 ppm F- as MFP); Colgate Natural Extracts (CNE - 1450 ppm F- as NaF); Oral-B 3D White Mineral Clean (OMC - 1100 ppm F- as NaF); Curaprox Black is White (CBW - 950 ppm F- as MFP); Bianco Carbon (BIC - no F-); Natural Suavetex (NSX - no F-); Oralgen Nupearl Advanced (ONA - no F-). Specimens were submitted to a 5-day erosion-toothbrushing abrasion cycling. Surface loss (SL) was determined with an optical profilometer. pH and concentration of available fluoride in the slurries were also assessed. Data were statistically analyzed (α = 0.05). RESULTS: For both substrates, CBW, CNE and EXC had significantly lower SL values than the control. CLW and OMC promoted significantly less dentin wear than the control. All the other groups did not differ significantly from the control. There was a strong negative correlation between SL and concentration of fluoride in the slurries for enamel (r = -0.77) and dentin (r = -0.91), and a strong positive correlation (r = 0.77) between enamel SL and pH. CONCLUSIONS: For both substrates, none of the activated charcoal-based toothpastes resulted in higher SL than brushing with artificial saliva. Only two of the charcoal toothpastes and the reference toothpaste were able to provide further protection against SL. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Activated charcoal-containing toothpastes are becoming popular, despite the absence of evidence supporting their safety for use by individuals with erosive tooth wear. These products did not pose an additional risk for these subjects. However, it would be preferable to use products that exhibits further protective effect.

Pharyngeal swallowing phase and chronic cough

Introduction: The act of swallowing depends on a complex and dynamic process which uses common structures to the act of breathing; respiratory problems can cause swallowing difficulties. Aim: To assess the swallowing pharyngeal phase in patients with chronic cough. Method: Retrospective study with 15 patients of both genders, patients with chronic cough and risk factors for aspiration defined by the pneumologic diagnosis. The patients were submitted to anamnesis on complaints related to swallowing, chewing and breathing, or related to food and to videofluoroscopic examination. Results: It was observed that 33.3% had normal and functional swallowing, being the last one of most prevalence. The mild dysphagia was observed in 20% of the patients, the mild to moderate dysphagia in 6.7% of them. In relation to the Rosenbek scale, 73.3% of patients presented degree 1, 6.7% presented degrees 2 and 3, and 13.3% presented degree 8. The most found pathology was the chronic cough with 40%, followed by asthma with 20%; 69.2% of patients presented stasis and of these, five used protection maneuvers, of these, seven were effective and only three were used in the presence of stasis. The most used maneuver was the multiple swallowing, being effective in 100%. Conclusion: There are peculiarities in the patients' swallowing with chronic cough that, although not presenting complaints relating to swallowing, it presents an important aspiration risk due to the presence of changes in breathing pattern that can intervene in the coordination between breathing and swallowing, which is essential to protect the lower airway...

Pharyngeal swallowing phase and chronic cough.

INTRODUCTION: The act of swallowing depends on a complex and dynamic process which uses common structures to the act of breathing; respiratory problems can cause swallowing difficulties. AIM: To assess the swallowing pharyngeal phase in patients with chronic cough. METHOD: Retrospective study with 15 patients of both genders, patients with chronic cough and risk factors for aspiration defined by the pneumologic diagnosis. The patients were submitted to anamnesis on complaints related to swallowing, chewing and breathing, or related to food and to videofluoroscopic examination. RESULTS: It was observed that 33.3% had normal and functional swallowing, being the last one of most prevalence. The mild dysphagia was observed in 20% of the patients, the mild to moderate dysphagia in 6.7% of them. In relation to the Rosenbek scale, 73.3% of patients presented degree 1, 6.7% presented degrees 2 and 3, and 13.3% presented degree 8. The most found pathology was the chronic cough with 40%, followed by asthma with 20%; 69.2% of patients presented stasis and of these, five used protection maneuvers, of these, seven were effective and only three were used in the presence of stasis. The most used maneuver was the multiple swallowing, being effective in 100%. CONCLUSION: There are peculiarities in the patients' swallowing with chronic cough that, although not presenting complaints relating to swallowing, it presents an important aspiration risk due to the presence of changes in breathing pattern that can intervene in the coordination between breathing and swallowing, which is essential to protect the lower airway.