In vitro cleaning, abrasion and fluoride efficacy of a new silica based whitening toothpaste containing blue covarine.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the stain removal ability, abrasivity towards enamel and dentine, and fluoride efficacy of a new silica based blue covarine whitening toothpaste in vitro.

METHODS: Stain removal was assessed by brushing artificially stained bovine specimens with slurries of either the new toothpaste or one of two whitening products or a non-whitening silica product. Toothpaste abrasivity was assessed by brushing enamel/dentine specimens with slurries of either the new toothpaste, a whitening toothpaste or a non-whitening toothpaste and measuring the wear via a combination of changes in geometry of Knoop indents and surface profilometry. Fluoride efficacy was assessed using remineralisation, demineralisation and fluoride-uptake methods.

RESULTS: The in vitro cleaning study showed that the silica based blue covarine whitening toothpaste removed significantly (p < 0.05) more stain than the non-whitening toothpaste and was as effective as the two marketed silica based whitening toothpastes. This enhanced tooth whitening benefit did not give rise to a concomitant statistically significant increase in the level of wear to enamel and dentine compared to the non-whitening silica based toothpaste. The fluoride efficacy was superior to a non-fluoridated control and was as effective as a clinically tested formulation containing the same fluoride source.

CONCLUSIONS: The studies show that the new whitening toothpaste is effective in extrinsic stain removal, does not have an undue degree of abrasivity to enamel or dentine compared to other relevant commercially available products, and is an efficacious source of fluoride.