In vivo evaluation of fluoride and sodium lauryl sulphate in toothpaste on buccal epithelial cells toxicity

Abstract

Objectives: The present study addresses the effect of fluoride and sodium lauryl sulphate content of toothpaste on oral epithelial cells in vivo conditions.

Subjects and method: Forty volunteers were assigned into two experimental groups, each of them applying the different brand of toothpaste. Every group has been using three different types of toothpaste (non-fluoride and non-SLS, fluoride and non-SLS, and the fluoride and SLS) of the same brand for 6 months, each for 2 months. The buccal epithelial cells were sampled at baseline and 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days after the beginning of the research. Effect on DNA damage was analyzed by micronucleus assay

Results: After 60 days of use, for both tested kinds of toothpaste with fluoride and without SLS, all studied parameters were not significantly different from the results obtained at the time when the participants used a non-fluoride toothpaste. While, after 60 days of use, for one kind of toothpaste with SLS and fluoride, was observed significantly higher incidence of pyknotic cells (2.20 ± 0.95, 0.00 ± 0.00 vs. 0.05 ± 0.22, respectively; p = .001), cells with karyorrhexis (2.35 ± 1.14, 0.85 ± 0.93 vs. 0.40 ± 0.68, respectively; p = .001), and nuclear buds (1.35 ± 0.68, 0.45 ± 0.51 vs. 0.45 ± 0.60, respectively; p = .001), compared to toothpastes of the same brand with fluoride and without SLS, and without fluoride and without SLS, for the same period.

Conclusions: Based on the results, can be concluded that there is no fluorine-dependent cytotoxic or genotoxic effect, while SLS dentifrice increases the number of nuclear morphological changes in buccal epithelial cells.

Keywords:

• cytogenetic damage
• exfoliated buccal cells
• fluoride
• sodium lauryl sulphate
• toothpaste

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to the students of Dental Medicine from the School of Medicine of the University of Split for their participation in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.