engleski

Assessment of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of regular and whitening kinds of toothpaste on oral mucosa cells: a non-randomized crossover study

Background: Due to the growing aesthetic demands of modern society, the use of tooth whitening products has increased, highlighting a need for healthcare clinicians and consumers alike to be informed of the potential benefits and risks associated with these products. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate possible DNA damage to oral epithelial cells exposed to whitening kinds of toothpaste considering the effect of conventional non-whitening kind of toothpastes. Materials and methods: Sixty volunteers were found among students of dental medicine and assigned into three experimental groups. Each group used a regular toothpaste for initial two months, followed by the use of whitening kinds of toothpaste of the same brand for the next two months. The oral epithelial cells were sampled at baseline and 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after the beginning of the use of tested types of toothpaste. Chromosomal damage was analyzed by micronucleus assay. Results: For all tested whitening kinds of toothpaste moderate non-significant increase in the number of cells bearing micronuclei was recorded following 30 days of their use compared to referent values, and those obtained after usage of regular non-whitening ones. For just one whitening toothpaste was observed significantly increase in the number of micronucleated cells after 60 days of use compared to control swab (3.1±1.59 and 1.6±0.07, respectively ; p=0.025), and values obtained after 30 and 60 days of usage of conventional non-whitening toothpaste (1.7±0.48 and 2.5±1.35 ; p=0.042 and p=0.044, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in other micronucleus assay endpoints between tested types of toothpaste at either of the sampling times during the period of toothpaste application. Conclusion: Based on the results, we can conclude that the use of certain whitening kinds of toothpaste may cause limited, biologically insignificant genotoxic effect on buccal epithelial cells.

biocompatibility, DNA damage, micronucleus assay, oral epithelial cells, whitening toothpaste

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