This study investigated the effects of herbal toothpaste on bacterial counts and enamel demineralization. Thirty-six bovine enamel samples were exposed to a microcosm biofilm using human saliva and McBain saliva (0.2% sucrose) for 5 days at 37 °C and first incubated anaerobically, then aerobically–capnophilically. The following experimental toothpaste slurries (2 × 2 min/day) were applied: (1) Vochysia tucanorum (10 mg/g); (2) Myrcia bella (5 mg/g); (3) Matricaria chamomilla (80 mg/g); (4) Myrrha and propolis toothpaste (commercial); (5) fluoride (F) and triclosan (1450 ppm F), 0.3% triclosan and sorbitol (Colgate®, positive control); (6) placebo (negative control). The pH of the medium was measured, bacteria were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and enamel demineralization was quantified using transverse microradiography. The total bacterial count was reduced by toothpaste containing Myrcia bella, Matricaria chamomilla, fluoride, and triclosan (commercial) compared to the placebo. As far as assessable, Myrcia bella, Matricaria chamomilla, and Myrrha and propolis (commercial) inhibited the outgrowth of S. mutans, while Lactobacillus spp. were reduced/eliminated by all toothpastes except Vochysia tucanorum. Mineral loss and lesion depth were significantly reduced by all toothpastes (total: 1423.6 ± 115.2 vol% × μm; 57.3 ± 9.8 μm) compared to the placebo (2420.0 ± 626.0 vol% × μm; 108.9 ± 21.17 μm). Herbal toothpastes were able to reduce enamel demineralization.

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This study evaluated the effects of different atmospheres on the cariogenic potential of microcosm biofilms. Ninety bovine enamel and 90 dentin specimens were allocated into three atmospheres: 1) microaerophilia (5 days, 5% CO2); 2) anaerobiosis (5 days, jar); 3) mixed (2 days microaerophilia and 3 days anaerobiosis), which were subdivided into 0.12% chlorhexidine (positive control- CHX) and Phosphate-Buffered Saline (negative control- PBS) (n = 15). Biofilms were prepared using human saliva and McBain's saliva containing 0.2% sucrose. From the second day, the specimens were treated with CHX or PBS (1 x 1 min/day). After five days, colony-forming units (CFU) were counting and tooth demineralization was analyzed using transverse microradiography (TMR). Data were subjected to two-way ANOVA and Tukey–Sidak’s test (p < 0.05). Regarding CFU counting, most atmospheres were able to differentiate between CHX and PBS (differences of 0.3–1.48 log10 CFU/ml), except for anaerobiosis and microaerophilia for total microorganisms in enamel and dentin biofilm, respectively. In the case of dentin, no effect of CHX on Lactobacillus spp. was observed. All atmospheres were able to differentiate between CHX and PBS regarding enamel demineralization, showing lower mineral loss and lesion depth for CHX (78% and 22% reductions for enamel and dentin, respectively). The enamel mineral loss data did not differ between the models; however, the enamel lesion depth was greater under anaerobiosis. Dentin mineral loss was lower under anaerobiosis than under other atmospheres. Conclusion: The choice of atmosphere did not seem to interfere with the cariogenic potential of the microcosm biofilm.