Although the past few decades have seen significant advances in the promotion of dental prevention, and despite the important role played by dental hygienists in spreading correct behavioural habits, tooth decay remains the most widespread disease in the world. It manifests from childhood onwards and, in Italy, affects over 50% of children and almost 100% of the adult population.
While modern dentistry has made great strides in treating cavities with increasingly less invasive techniques, the same progress has not been achieved in focusing on disease prevention and in identifying the cofactors and behaviors involved in cavity development.
The primary trigger of tooth decay is, without doubt, acidic pH. The acidic environment is the first factor that must be neutralised. It is important to remember that the metabolic processes of the human body itself lead to continuous fluctuations in pH — for this reason, the Buffer System exists in the blood to prevent numerous conditions by maintaining pH in balance.
In the oral cavity, this role is performed by saliva, thanks to the bicarbonate it contains, whose key property is the neutralisation of acids. Every time we consume food or beverages, the salivary buffer system activates, and in a healthy individual, approximately 30 minutes are required to restore pH balance (Stephan Curve).
Salivary buffering is crucial for enamel remineralization, and studies show an inverse correlation between salivary buffering capacity and cavity formation.
Moreover, today’s increasingly hectic lifestyles, frequent snacking, and the widespread consumption of fizzy drinks are contributing to the steady rise of a new dental condition: dental erosion, also known as acid erosion. Erosion is the permanent and progressive loss of the hard tissues of the tooth due to chemical dissolution, caused by acidic substances of either endogenous origin (such as gastroesophageal reflux) or exogenous sources.
Thanks to collaboration with the University of Insubria in Varese, Cariex® was developed — a dental spray recognised as one of the most significant advances in the field of oral hygiene, capable of naturally supporting the salivary buffer system through the slow-release properties of bicarbonate and xylitol.
This is the first therapeutic product capable of restoring pH balance and maintaining a neutral oral environment. By doing so, it prevents the growth of acid-loving bacteria, protects teeth from demineralization, and provides effective prevention against cavities and dental erosion.
Mauro Turchetti
© 2014 by the YES Group, Inc – The Journal of Clinical Dentistry® – The International Journal of Oral Care Product Research: “Salivary pH After a Glucose Rinse: Effect of a New Mucoadhesive Spray (Cariex®) Based on Sodium Bicarbonate and Xylitol” – GM Abbate, DDS L Levrini, MS School of Dentistry and Oral Hygiene, University of Insubria Varese, Italy MP Caria, DDS, PhD Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Sweden.
