Assessing the Impact of Vegan Toothpastes on Enamel Color Change and Surface Properties.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate color (ΔE₀₀) and whiteness index (ΔWI_D) changes, surface hardness loss (SHL), roughness (Ra), mineral content, and morphology of enamel brushed with vegan toothpastes.

Methods: Enamel blocks (n = 10/group) were stained with black tea (T0) underwent 15.000 (T1) and 30.000 (T2) toothbrushing cycles with: (n = 10): (AS) Artificial Saliva (control); (CT) Colgate Total 12 Clean Mint; (CC) Turmeric, Clove, Tea Tree Extracts; (CA) Chamomile, Melissa and Grape Extracts; (CH) Pepper Mint and Turmeric Extracts; (ZM) Zero Mint; (ZH) Zero Pepper Mint; (ME) Mint Everest; (CM) Charcoal and Mint; (HA) Herbal Anis Mint and Tea Tree. Color parameters (ΔE₀₀, ΔWI_D), SHL, and Ra were recorded at T0, T1, and T2. At T2, mineral content (EDS) and surface morphology (SEM) were examined. Data were statistically analyzed (α = 0.05).

Results: At T1, no differences in ΔE₀₀ and %SHL were observed among groups (p > 0.05). At T2, ZM, ZH, ME, and CM displayed higher ΔE₀₀ than AS, CC exhibited the highest %SHL, and Ra increased for all groups (p < 0.05). At T1 and T2, all toothpastes caused negative ΔWI_D values. None of the toothpastes triggered changes in enamel mineral content or surface morphology.

Conclusions: Vegan toothpastes did not cause hardness loss or deleterious effects on enamel mineral content or morphology. However, they exhibited no whitening effect and increased enamel roughness.

Clinical significance: Toothpastes indicated for vegan individuals are available, but there is little evidence to support their use, in contrast to their widespread marketing. Although vegan toothpastes did not change enamel microhardness nor promote adverse effects on enamel morphology, none of the toothpastes tested were able to exhibit a potential whitening effect.