Safety and Efficacy of a Toothpaste Whitening Booster

Products which deliver hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth can demineralize the surface of tooth enamel due to their acidity. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the addition of calcium phosphate dihydrate to a peroxide-containing toothpaste whitening booster as a means of inhibiting tooth erosion, and to determine the potential of the booster gel to whiten teeth. Methods: The change in surface roughness of highly polished enamel specimens was determined by OIP after 5 and 10 minutes exposure to a 2% peroxide-containing whitening booster gel, with a pH between 3.0 and 3.5 and containing 0, 0.05% or 0.1% dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD). The ability of a 1:1 combination of 2% H2O2/0.1% DCPD with two conventional toothpastes (Crest® and Colgate Total®) to whiten naturally stained teeth in vitro was compared with a peroxide toothpaste (Mentadent®). Mentadent has been clinically proven to increase tooth whiteness by two shades with one month's use. Results: Surface roughness (RMS) was increased from 0.065 to 0.095 by 10 minutes exposure to the gel without DCPD (p<0.01); the gel with DCPD at 0.1% prevented a measurable change in RMS over 10 minutes, while 0.05% DCPD was effective for 5 minutes. The toothpaste whitening booster increased the tooth whitening power of the conventional toothpaste by about two shades, being equivalent in performance to brushing for 120 minutes with Mentadent®. Conclusion: Dicalcium phosphate can inhibit corrosion due to an acidic peroxide gel. The 2% peroxide gel containing 0.1% DCPD boosts tooth whiteness when used with a conventional toothpaste.