Impact of toothpaste formulations on tooth decay

Abstract

There are many species of bacteria that reside in the mouth and comprise the oral flora. One of the species that lead to pathogenesis is Streptococcus mutans (Forssten et al, 2010). S. mutans and other bacteria of the mouth often form biofilms. They are composed of polysaccharides and their function is to assist bacteria in adhering to substrates. Biofilms, also known as plaque, are of particular importance as these lead to dental caries, more commonly known as cavities (Forssten et al, 2010). Once plaque is formed, additional acid production overwhelms the ability of saliva to neutralize the acidity and results in cavities (Forssten et al, 2010). Charcoal whitening of teeth has become a recent trend but many have failed to point out the lack of research into this topic. Several studies have been completed but with differing, inconclusive results (Brooks, 2017). Furthermore, this whitening system is known to cause weakening of the enamel as a result of this hard substance rubbing against the tooth surface (Greenwall et al, 2019). This raises the question whether activated charcoal whitening toothpaste has a greater effect on whitening of teeth compared to other toothpaste additives and if the toothpaste increases susceptibility to caries caused by the acidification of S. mutans and weakening of the enamel.