Cariogenic effect of caffeine intake during lactation on first molars of newborn rats

Comparative evaluation of fluoride-free remineralization agents with and without Er,Cr:YSGG laser on artificial enamel remineralization

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of fluoride-free remineralizing agents in initial enamel caries, with and without combined Er,Cr:YSGG laser application. The remineralization effect of various agents and their combinations on artificial initial caries was investigated using 10 experimental groups (n = 7): NC, negative control; PC, positive control; TM, calcium-phosphate compounds (CPP-ACP); TD, theobromine-containing toothpaste; RG, ROCS® remineralizing gel; L, Er,Cr:YSGG laser (2780 nm; 0.25 W; repetition rate, 20 Hz; pulse duration, 140 μs; tip diameter, 600 μm; without air/water cooling); L + fluoride toothpaste; L + TM; L + TD; and L + RG. The demineralized bovine enamel specimens were subjected to an 8-day pH cycle by daily application of the remineralizing agents and laser therapy once prior to the pH cycle and paste application. The enamel samples underwent the Vickers surface microhardness test, and one sample per group was analyzed with scanning electron microscopy. The Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare the microhardness recovery percentage (SMHR%) for each group, and multiple comparisons were made with the Dunn test. Groups L (p = 0.003), RG (p = 0.019), L + TM (p < 0.001), L + fluoride toothpaste (p = 0.001),and L + RG (p = 0.036) exhibited significant increase in SMHR%. The tested remineralizing agents exhibited no statistically significant difference in effect when used alone and in combination with Er,Cr:YSGG laser. Combined application of Er,Cr:YSGG laser and ROCS® remineralization gel effectively promoted enamel remineralization, while use of CPP-ACP and fluoride toothpaste alone was ineffective. Theobromine-containing toothpaste exhibited the least SMHR%. Long-term evaluation of these agents is recommended.

Caries Preventive Effects of Theobromine Containing Toothpaste on Early Childhood Caries: Preliminary Results

Objective

Enamel remineralizing effects of theobromine have received much attention from the clinicians. The aim of this study was to investigate the caries preventive effect of theobromine containing toothpaste on children with early childhood caries (ECC).

Material and Methods

Salivary pH, buffering capacity and frequency of Streptococcus mutans (SM) levels were measured. Each child was assigned either fluoridated or theobromine containing toothpaste. The changes were analyzed using Laser Fluorescence system. Statistical analyses were performed.

Results

We included 13 children (mean age 4.25) with 145 teeth in the fluoridated toothpaste (Colgate Kids toothpaste) group; 13 children (mean age 4.46) with 115 teeth in theobromine containing toothpaste (Theodent^TMKids toothpaste) group. Both toothpastes demonstrated enamel remineralization and were effective in increasing the buffering capacity and pH (p < 0.05). A statistically significant decrease in S. mutans levels was found in both toothpaste groups (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Both toothpaste group showed a statistically significant amount of enamel remineralization. Since theobromine had the added benefits of increasing the salivary pH and decreasing the S.mutans levels, theobromine containing toothpastes can be considered effective agents in remineralizing white spot lesions and can be used in prevention of early enamel lesions.

The effects of fluoride, strontium, theobromine and their combinations on caries lesion rehardening and fluoridation

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to investigate the effects of fluoride, strontium, theobromine and their combinations on caries lesion rehardening and fluoridation (EFU) under pH cycling conditions.

DESIGN

Human enamel specimens were demineralized at 37°C for 24h using a pH 5.0 solution containing 50mM lactic acid and 0.2% Carbopol 907 which was 50% saturated with respect to hydroxyapatite. Lesions were assigned to nine treatment groups (n=16) based on Knoop surface microhardness indentation length.

TREATMENT

aqueous solutions were: placebo, 11.9mM sodium fluoride (F), 23.8mM sodium fluoride (2×F), 1.1mM strontium chloride hexahydrate (Sr), 1.1mM F theobromine, Sr+theobromine, F+Sr, F+theobromine, F+Sr+theobromine. Lesions were pH cycled for 5d (daily protocol: 3×1min-treatment; 2×60min-demineralization; 4×60min & overnight-artificial saliva). Knoop indentation length was measured again and%surface microhardness recovery (%SMHr) calculated. EFU was determined using the acid-etch technique. Data were analysed using ANOVA.

RESULTS

Model showed fluoride dose-response for both variables (2×F>F>placebo). For%SMHr, F+Sr+/-theobromine resulted in more rehardening than F, however less than 2×F. F+theobromine was similar to F. For EFU, F+Sr was inferior to F, F+theobromine and F+Sr+theobromine which were similar and inferior to 2×F. In absence of fluoride, Sr, theobromine or Sr+theobromine were virtually indistinguishable from placebo and inferior to F.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded that a) strontium aids rehardening but not EFU and only in presence of fluoride; b) theobromine does not appear to offer any anti-caries benefits in this model; c) there are no synergistic effects between strontium and theobromine in the presence or absence of fluoride.

Remineralization of artificial enamel lesions by theobromine

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the remineralization potential of theobromine in comparison to a standard NaF dentifrice.

METHODS

Three tooth blocks were produced from each of 30 teeth. Caries-like lesion was created on each block using acidified gel. A smaller block was cut from each block for baseline scanning electron microscopy imaging and electron-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis for surface Ca level. A tooth slice was cut from each lesion-bearing block for transverse microradiography (TMR) quantification of baseline mineral loss (Δz) and lesion depth (LD). Then baseline surface microhardness (SMH) of each lesion was measured. The three blocks from each tooth were assigned to three remineralizing agents: (1) artificial saliva; (2) artificial saliva with theobromine (0.0011 mol/l), and (3) NaF toothpaste slurry (0.0789 mol/l F). Remineralization was conducted using a pH cycling model with storage in artificial saliva. After a 28-day cycle, samples were analyzed using EDS, TMR, and SMH. Intragroup comparison of pre- and posttest data was performed using t tests (p < 0.05). Intergroup comparisons were performed by post hoc multistep comparisons (Tukey).

RESULTS

SMH indicated significant (p < 0.01) remineralization only with theobromine (38 ± 32%) and toothpaste (29 ± 16%). With TMR (Δz/lD), theobromine and toothpaste exhibited significantly (p < 0.01) higher mineral gain relative to artificial saliva. With SMH and TMR, remineralization produced by theobromine and toothpaste was not significantly different. With EDS, calcium deposition was significant in all groups, but not significantly different among the groups (theobromine 13 ± 8%, toothpaste 10 ± 5%, and artificial saliva 6 ± 8%).

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated that theobromine in an apatite-forming medium can enhance the remineralization potential of the medium.

Dental erosion, soft-drink intake, and oral health in young Saudi men, and the development of a system for assessing erosive anterior tooth wear

The aim of the study was to investigate some aspects of the oral health of male Saudi military inductees with special reference to soft-drink consumption, dental erosion, caries and fluorosis prevalences; a second aim of the study was to develop a system for assessing dental erosion. The material comprised a random selection of 95 individuals with a mean age of 20.9 years (range, 19-25 years). A questionnaire survey was made of each individual's dietary and oral hygiene habits and general and oral health, in addition to clinical, study cast, radiographic, and photographic examinations. The results showed that soft-drink consumption in the sample (x = 247 1/year) far exceeded that found in Western populations and that professional and self-administered dental care were generally scant. Twenty-eight percent of the maxillary anterior teeth showed pronounced dental erosion. Fluorosis was a common finding, and the number of untreated carious cavities was high. DMFT (mean = 10.0; DT = 7.7; MT = 0.5; FT = 1.8) and DMFS (mean = 18.3; DS = 12.6; MS = 2.5; FS = 3.2) were higher than those of comparable Western populations and showed an approximately threefold increase over a period of about 18 years as compared with that previously reported in a similar Saudi sample. In view of the high frequencies of dental erosion, untreated carious cavities, and fluorosis reported here and the strong indication of an increasing caries prevalence, the need for serious recognition of the implications in the planning of future dental health care program is stressed.

Potential teratogenic and neurodevelopmental consequences of coffee and caffeine exposure: a review on human and animal data

The teratogenic effect of caffeine has been clearly demonstrated in rodents. The sensitivity of different animals species is variable. Malformations have been demonstrated in mice at 50-75 mg/kg of caffeine, whereas the lowest dose usually needed to induce malformations is 80 mg/kg in rats. However, when caffeine is administered in fractioned amounts during the day, 330 mg/kg/day are necessary to reach teratogenicity in rats. In rodents, the most frequently observed malformations are those of the limbs and digits, ectrodactyly, craniofacial malformations (labial and palatal clefts) and delays in ossification of limbs, jaw and sternum. Nevertheless, even in rodents, caffeine can be considered as a weak teratogenic agent, given the quite large quantities of caffeine necessary to induce malformations and the small number of animals affected. In humans, caffeine does not present any teratogenic risk. The increased risk of the most common congenital malformations entailed by moderate consumption of caffeine is very slight. However, caffeine potentiates the teratogenic effect of other substances, such as tobacco, alcohol, and acts synergistically with ergotamine and propranolol to induce materno-fetal vasoconstrictions leading to malformations induced by ischemia. Therefore, even though caffeine does not seem to be harmful to the human fetus when intake is moderate and spread out over the day, some associations, especially with alcohol, tobacco, and vasoconstrictive or anti-migraine medications should be avoided. Maternal consumption of caffeine affects brain composition, especially in case of a low-protein diet and also seems to interfere with zinc fixation in brain. Maternal exposure to caffeine induces also long-term consequences on sleep, locomotion, learning abilities, emotivity, and anxiety in rat offspring, whereas in humans, more studies are needed to ascertain long-term behavioral effects of caffeine ingestion by pregnant mothers.