The effect of fluoride on experimental cariogenicity in man was investigated by using bovine enamel surfaces mounted in oral prosthetic appliances. Samples of sound and presoftened enamel were exposed to simulated cariogenic or noncariogenic conditions for 1 week. The samples were periodically immersed iti vitro in solutions containing 1 ppm fluoride. For the cariogenic condition, the immersion solution was 3 % sucrose, for the noncariogenic condition, water. After the experimental period, the sample enamel was assessed for hardness change and fluoride incorporation. Under the non-cariogenic condition, partial remineralization and high fluoride incorporation were found in the presoftened enamel; both hardness change and fluoride incorporation in sound enamel were minor. The cariogenic condition contributed to higher enamel softening and higher fluoride uptake by both types of samples. The findings suggest a mechanism through which intermittent cariogenesis and remineralization in the presence of fluoride may contribute to increased tooth resistance to caries.

Nine sugars and sugar alcohols were assessed for their effect on experimental caries with an Intraoral Cariogenicity Test (ICT). Sample bovine enamel surfaces were submitted to simulated cariogenic conditions in the human mouth. The extent of experimental cariogenesis after 1 week was measured by means of surface microhardness tests on enamel samples. Each test sugar was compared to sucrose control, and supplied to one of the two ICT plaques at the same time. There was no detectable difference in the effect of glucose, fructose, and raffinose on ICT cariogenesis. Lactose, mannitol, melibiose, and sorbitol were significantly less cariogenic than sucrose (p < 0.05), while xylose and xylitol were noncariogenic.

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