The effect of calcium toothpastes on the level of oral hygiene and enamel resistance in 12-18-year-old children

Relevance. Oral hygiene improvement and remineralization stimulation are essential to prevent dental caries in children aged 12-18 y.o.Purpose: to compare the oral hygiene and enamel resistance levels in children using toothpastes based on calcium glycerophosphate and calcium lactate.Materials and methods. The study involved 42 children aged from 12 to 18 years. Twenty patients used Novy Zhemchug with Calcium toothpaste as a home oral care product for two months. Twenty-two patients used Toothpaste R.O.C.S.® Active Calcium for two months. The study determined the plaque control record (O’Leary, 1967) and the SHS (Simple Hygiene Score) by quantitative light-induced fluorescence (Qraypen C™) and enamel resistance test (Okushko V.R., 1984). All results were statistically processed.Results. The study found that the O’Leary plaque control record, SHS and the enamel resistance test results were not statistically significant in both study groups. After two months of observation, the O’Leary plaque control record significantly improved in children of both groups. However, the group using Toothpaste R.O.C.S.® Active Calcium demonstrated significantly better values (59.74 ± 4.12%). The SHS was significantly better after two months of use in the children group using Toothpaste R.O.C.S.® Active Calcium compared to the children group using Novy Zhemchug with Calcium toothpaste. The enamel resistance test score significantly improved in children of both groups over two months. The patients using Toothpaste R.O.C.S.® Active Calcium for two months demonstrated the best enamel resistance score.Conclusion. Toothpaste containing calcium compounds is quite effective for oral hygiene and enamel resistance improvement in children aged 12-18 y.o. The best scores were in groups of children who used toothpaste containing calcium glycerophosphate compared to the children group who used too thpastes containing calcium lactate.