Characterization of the solid components of three desensitizing toothpastes and a mouth wash

The solid components of three toothpastes and a mouth wash which are intended to enhance the remineralization of teeth and occlusion of dentinal tubuli were isolated and analyzed. Samples of the toothpaste BioRepair (R), the mouth wash BioRepair (R), the toothpaste nanosensitive (R) hca, and the toothpaste Theramed (R) S.O.S. Sensitive were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and elemental analysis. All samples contained primary particles in the size range of 30-60 nm, that were all agglomerated in aqueous dispersion to particles in the size range of 200 to 400 nm. BioRepair (R) contained a zinc-substituted hydroxyapatite and amorphous silica, nanosensitive (R) hca contained TiO2 (anatase) and an amorphous Na-Ca-Si-P bioglass, and Theramed (R) S.O.S. Sensitive contained TiO2 (anatase), amorphous silica and traces of a calcium-containing phase. The size of the mineral particles was in all cases suitable to fit into dentinal tubuli, especially after breaking up the agglomerated nanoparticles by mechanical forces, e. g. during tooth brushing.