[Fluoride levels in saliva after tooth-brushing using fluoride toothpastes with and without rinsing of oral cavity].

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine salivary fluoride concentrations after tooth-brushing with fluoride toothpastes with and without rinsing of oral cavity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fluoride levels in the supernatant of unstimulated mixed saliva were measured after tooth-brushing with Elmex (amine fluoride, 0.125% F) and Meridol (amine fluoride, stannous(II) fluoride, 0.14% F) toothpaste with and without rinsing. Fluoride concentration was measured using a fluoride ion-specific electrode (Orion 96 09BN) connected to a CPI-551 computer. The study was done in 120 subjects from whom salivary samples were taken before and after 15 and 30 min. from tooth-brushing with and without rinsing.

RESULTS: Fluoride levels in saliva correlated with time from tooth-brushing and with oral cavity rinsing. Toothbrushing with rinsing led to similar increase/decrease in fluoride level in saliva for both toothpastes. The use of toothpaste without rinsing vs rinsing produced a two-fold increase in the level of salivary fluoride in the case of Elmex and a three-fold increase in the case of Meridol toothpaste. Fluoride content in saliva 30 minutes after brushing was higher than baseline.

CONCLUSION: Significantly higher fluoride levels in saliva after tooth-brushing with fluoride toothpastes were noted when tooth-brushing was not followed by oral cavity rinsing.