Total and soluble fluoride concentration present in various commercial brands of children toothpastes available in Saudi Arabia – A pilot study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this pilot study was to perform chemical analysis and investigate the total and soluble fluoride concentrations in various brands of children toothpastes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three samples of five different commercial brands of children toothpastes were collected and divided into five groups; group A – Biorepair Oral Care toothpaste containing no fluoride (control), group B – Signal Kids Strawberry toothpaste having 500 ppm fluoride, group C – Aquafresh Milk Teeth toothpaste having 500 ppm fluoride, group D – Aquafresh Little Teeth toothpaste having 500 ppm fluoride, and group E – Siwak F Junior having 400 ppm F. The total fluoride (TF) and total soluble fluoride (TSF) concentration of the toothpastes was determined using fluoride ion selective electrode. Data were analysed using Paired sample t-test. RESULTS: The measured TF values were inconsistent with that of the declared concentrations by the manufacturers. Mean TF found in the toothpastes ranged between 2.37 and 515.74 ppm whereas, the mean TSF ranged between 2.00 and 503.4 ppm. For two groups, TF was more than the declared TF whereas for the other three groups, it was less than the declared concentration. All the differences between the declared and observed TF concentration were statistically significant (p < .05) except for one group. All the toothpastes demonstrated mean TSF slightly lower than their respective observed mean TF concentrations. CONCLUSION: The analysis of TF and TSF concentrations revealed variations from the labelled claims. Therefore, some of the toothpastes may have doubtful anti-caries effectiveness owing to deficiency of total and soluble fluoride.