Introduction: Currently, the main focus of caries control measures is on methods for early detection and non-invasive treatment of incipient lesions. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of a toothpaste containing Actimins and an Er,Cr:YSGG laser on the microhardness of demineralized enamel. Methods: Forty maxillary and mandibular primary posterior teeth with sound buccal or lingual surfaces were evaluated in this in vitro study. After measuring their baseline microhardness, the teeth were immersed in a demineralizing solution for 48 hours, and their microhardness was measured again. The teeth were then randomly divided into 5 groups of negative control (artificial saliva), positive control [1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF)], Actimins, Er,Cr:YSGG laser (0.75 W power, 20 Hz frequency, 60% water, 40% air, and 60 s pulse duration), and Actimins plus Er,Cr:YSGG laser, and underwent microhardness measurement for the third time after the intervention. The microhardness data were compared by an ANOVA and a Bonferroni test with the significance level set at 0.05. Results: The toothpaste containing 5% Actimins and the Er,Cr:YSGG laser significantly enhanced the remineralization of primary enamel incipient lesions. The lowest mean microhardness at baseline, after demineralization, and after remineralization was noted in the artificial saliva group. No significant difference was found in microhardness between the groups at baseline or after demineralization (P>0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, the toothpaste containing 5% Actimins and the Er,Cr:YSGG laser significantly enhanced the remineralization of primary enamel incipient lesions.

This narrative review critically examines common myths in dental bleaching that are often presented as strategies to improve efficacy or reduce adverse effects, despite limited, inconsistent, or context-dependent clinical support. The review integrates evidence from clinical trials and systematic reviews identified through searches, with priority given to higher-level clinical evidence when available. In addition, concepts from Evidence-Based Practice and Cognitive Psychology are used to contextualize why weakly supported protocols may persist in clinical decision-making. The analysis addressed frequently disseminated beliefs in clinical practice and led to the following conclusions: a) dietary restriction does not improve bleaching outcomes; b) preventive use of analgesics and/or anti-inflammatory drugs does not reduce tooth sensitivity (TS); c) higher peroxide concentrations may accelerate early bleaching but increase adverse effects and do not enhance final efficacy; d) prolonged gel exposure beyond recommended times does not produce perceptible additional color change and may increase TS; e) tray scalloping does not consistently reduce patient-perceived gingival irritation; f) increasing gel volume or contact area does not improve final bleaching efficacy and may increase biological cost; g) light-activation does not provide additional clinical benefit; h) gel agitation does not enhance bleaching outcomes; i) over-the-counter products do not replace professionally supervised bleaching in terms of predictability and magnitude of color change; and j) desensitizing toothpastes show inconsistent efficacy in preventing TS. Overall, bleaching protocols should be selected according to clinically meaningful benefits, adverse effects, patient-centered outcomes, and the strength and consistency of the available evidence, rather than tradition, intuition, or commercial appeal.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the sociodemographic factors influencing oral hygiene habits and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among complete denture wearers at Kuwait University Dental Clinic (KUDC). Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire and an Oral Health Impact Profile-19 (OHIP-19) instrument to assess oral hygiene habits and OHRQoL in 61 complete denture patients, treated by dental undergraduate students at KUDC, between January 2019 and December 2023. Additionally, a clinical assessment of denture hygiene was performed using the Budtz-Jörgensen denture plaque index for all patients (n = 61). Sociodemographic, general health status, oral hygiene habits, and OHRQoL-related data were collected. Results: A total of 37.7% of included participants were aged 51-60 years, with 75.4% being male. Most participants (81.96%) had a high school education or less. Caries was reported as the primary cause of tooth loss (83.6%), and 77.04% recorded irregular dental visits. Only 46.05% of participants demonstrated optimal and/or good denture hygiene. Toothpaste was the most common cleaning method (79.21%), and 70.62% removed their dentures at night. A significant association was found between education level and denture wearing (p = 0.035), as well as between gender and the frequency of dental visits (p = 0.024). However, no significant relationship was observed between gender and denture hygiene (p = 0.52). The OHIP-19 results revealed that poor denture hygiene impacted OHRQoL across multiple domains, including functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, and social disability. Conclusions: Unsatisfactory denture hygiene was prevalent among participants, possibly due to limited awareness or inadequate instructions provided by dental health practitioners. Education level and gender influenced certain aspects of denture care, highlighting the need for targeted oral health education programs and improved patient guidance from dental practitioners. Additionally, poor denture hygiene was associated with reduced OHRQoL, emphasizing the importance of addressing both oral hygiene practices and their psychosocial impacts to improve overall well-being.

Consumer acceptance of toothpaste formulations is heavily influenced by oral tactile sensations, particularly foaming behavior. While Home Use Tests (HUTs) provide definitive consumer insights, they are resource-intensive and time-consuming. This study establishes an accelerated laboratory methodology to predict consumer perception of toothpaste foaming using instrumental rheology and dynamic foam analysis (DFA). Fifteen custom made toothpaste formulations varying in surfactant systems, abrasives, and sensates were evaluated. Laboratory evaluation included foam generation via a customized blender-rheometer geometry to monitor the viscoelastic properties (tan δ) of a paste-water slurry, paste yield stress analysis, and structural profiling via DFA. Multivariable linear regression revealed that the initial foam loss factor (tan δ) correlates strongly with consumer panel ratings for both Foam Degree (R[2] = 0.7) and Foam Liking (R[2] = 0.6). Integrating paste yield stress (σy) into a multivariate model markedly enhanced the prediction (R[2] = 0.8). Alternative multivariable models using tan δ and initial DFA parameters-specifically bubble count and average bubble radius-similarly yielded highly accurate predictions of mouthfeel (R[2] = 0.8). The findings demonstrate that formulations with low paste yield stress and high foam visco-dominance (higher tan δ) facilitate bubble formation and produce rich, consumer-preferred "liquidish" textures. Alternative multivariable models using tan δ and DFA parameters were also presented. This dual rheological framework provides an instrumental proxy to screen and optimize toothpastes prior to panel studies.

Gingipain B is a protease released by Porphyromonas gingivalis, which contributes to the development of diseases such as periodontitis, Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Therefore, it could be a key target for the design of inhibitors that could be used in new drug therapies. In this search for inhibitors, it is interesting to study their potentiation by Zn[2+], mainly because this divalent cation can be a common additive in toothpastes or mouthwashes. To understand this potentiation process, the structural aspects that determine the effect of Zn[2+] on the different potentiation of gingipain B inhibition by three inhibitors with benzamidine group were studied. For this purpose, molecular dynamics simulations of the enzyme/inhibitor complex, in the presence or absence of Zn[2+], were performed to identify the residues involved in the interaction with the inhibitor or with the cation. From the simulations it is observed that the compounds that are potentiated by Zn interact with the ion via water molecules, which are oriented towards the carbonyl functional group. In addition, a higher solvent exposure of the catalytic site and a lower flexibility of a region adjacent to cysteine 244, which participates in catalysis, are observed in the simulations. The structural and dynamic results obtained through molecular dynamics simulations support the hypothesis that the potentiation of gingipain B inhibition by Zn[2+] is associated with ion-mediated ligand stabilization, leading to a decrease in the number of water molecules in the second hydration shell, as well as polarization of the molecules in the vicinity of Zn[2+]. Taken together, these findings open new avenues for the design of inhibitors whose activity can be modulated or enhanced by the presence of Zn[2+], with potential applications in the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.