Fluoride is commonly incorporated into most dentifrices and drinking water in order to prevent tooth decay. Although widely used, there are adverse effects of excessive fluoride ingestion particularly in young children and the elderly. Recently, xanthine derivatives such as theobromine and caffeine have drawn interest as fluoride alternatives with the potential to remineralize tooth enamel.  In this work, pieces of eggshell were treated with toothpaste analogs that contained theobromine, caffeine, xanthine, or fluoride. The porosity of the eggshells was examined and measured before and after treatment using Scanning Electron Microscopy to assess the effectiveness of each xanthine derivative compared to traditional fluoride.

Xanthine derivatives as potential agents for tooth remineralization

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.