Effects of brushing with caffeinated toothpaste on neurocognitive function of the central nervous system: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: This randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effect of brushing with caffeinated toothpaste on neurocognitive function of the central nervous system.

Methods: Eighty healthy individuals were randomly assigned to four groups: oral caffeine capsules (100 mg caffeine) as the control, brushing with caffeinated toothpaste (100 mg caffeine) for 2, 3, and 4 min. Cognitive and motor responses were assessed using selective processing speed assessment (Stroop test), short-term memory test, selective attention capacity assessment, and hand-eye coordination test before and after intervention at 10, 30, and 60 min intervals.

Results: Brushing with caffeinated toothpaste was as effective as oral caffeine intake in improving selective attention capacity, selective processing speed, short-term memory, and hand-eye coordination. Despite the higher improvement in the longest duration brushing group in most of the outcomes, the difference did not reach the statistical significance among study groups.

Conclusion: Brushing with caffeinated toothpaste appears to be as effective as oral intake of caffeine in enhance cognitive and motor functions.

Clinical trial registration: https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/71213, identifier (IRCT20230318057752N2).