Scientists have proved that no toothpaste can strengthen enamel

An international group of scientists did not find any differences between pastes that supposedly “protect against enamel erosion”, “strengthen enamel” or “reduce the sensitivity of teeth”, from the control paste. Moreover, it turned out that all the pastes are equally abrasive and none can reverse the abrasion of the enamel.
Dentists note that patients increasingly come to them with the destroyed tooth enamel and hypersensitive dentin. The market responded to this trend by the appearance of toothpastes, whose producers promise to prevent erosion of enamel. But a study conducted by experts from the Swiss and Brazilian universities showed that none of the toothpastes studied, which are positioned as “protecting enamel,” are not able to combat the loss of tooth enamel substance, a key factor leading to increased sensitivity and tooth decay.
When caries, the enamel decomposes under the action of bacterial enzymes, but sometimes mechanical erosion leads to the fact that the dentin is exposed and the tooth becomes sensitive to hot, cold and touching. Most often, this problem occurs in the part of the tooth adjacent to the gum, because the enamel is thinner. “One of the reasons for the discovery of dentin and the appearance of sensitivity is the erosion of the enamel that occurs when we brush our teeth. Therefore, for our research, we chose those toothpastes that promise to fight erosion or sensitivity, “explains Samira Helena João-Souza, one of the authors of the study.
Scientists subjected human teeth donated by the dental clinic, five cycles of cleansing using nine brands popular in Europe and Brazil with “anti-erosion” or “sensitivity-reducing” properties and one control paste, and measured the loss of enamel substance. The results of tests scientists published in the journal Scientific Reports. According to the article, all the pastes tested in one way or another contribute to the loss of enamel substance and none protects against erosion and abrasion. Moreover, the difference between pastes of different brands turned out to be just as insignificant as the difference between “protective” pastes and control ones.

Reducing the area of ​​the enamel after five cycles of tooth cleaning with five toothpastes. The bottom graph is for cleaning without paste in the presence of artificial saliva. João-Souza et al. Scientific Reports.

Toothpaste should be used for its intended purpose – serve as a weak abrasive agent and help to remove the remains of food from the teeth, as well as disinfect the surface of teeth and gums. But it can not be used as a medicine, including as a medicine for erosion of enamel or hypersensitivity of teeth, the authors of the article note. According to João-Sauza, only three rules can be protected from enamel loss: timely dental visits, regular dental hygiene and diet. Rely on the protection of toothpaste, according to scientists, it is impossible.
Erosion of teeth is a multifactorial process. Most actively it occurs in an acidic environment, and some approaches to nutrition make the environment in the mouth very acidic – in particular, it happens if you eat a lot of food of industrial production.
Previously, we wrote about how drinking bottled water and refusing tap water led to problems with teeth in children.