Impact of Common Fruit Juices and Toothbrushing on the Discoloration of Primary Teeth

This study investigates how common fruit juices discolor primary teeth and whether brushing mitigates these staining effects. This protocol can be applied in dental research to assess discoloration and the effectiveness of oral hygiene interventions in primary and permanent teeth. To begin, collect a total of 80 sound primary teeth extracted due to trauma, orthodontic reasons, or excessive mobility related to natural exfoliation.

Assign 20 specimens to each fruit juice group and the control group. After removing remaining gingival tissue and debris from the teeth. Store the teeth in saline solution until the experiments begin.

Replace the saline solution daily. Next, create a four-by-four millimeter square window on each specimen using red nail polish. Divide the samples into brushed and unbrushed subgroups, and then divide the brushed group into fluoridated and non-fluoridated toothpaste subgroups.

Then measure baseline color values for all groups using a spectrophotometer. Recording results in Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage L*a*b*coordinates relative to a standard illuminant Label each container with the specimen number and the assigned solution. Fill the containers with the respective solutions, including orange juice, pomegranate juice, black mulberry juice, or saline solution.

Then immerse the specimens in their assigned solutions. Incubate all samples at 37 degrees Celsius for seven and 28 days, refreshing the juice daily. Dilute each toothpaste with distilled water at a 1:1 weight ratio to obtain a standardized slurry that approximates intraoral dilution during toothbrushing.

Using an electric toothbrush, brush the specimens in the brushing subgroups once a day on each surface for five seconds with either fluoridated or non-fluoridated toothpaste. After measuring color, using the dental spectrophotometer as described earlier, calculate the color difference, delta E by first, determining the mean values of delta L, delta a, and delta b for each specimen, and then applying the equation shown. Finally, perform statistical analysis using appropriate software.

Three-way analysis of variants showed significant effects of time and juice type on discoloration while brushing type-approached significance. The interaction terms indicated that discoloration patterns varied according to brushing condition and exposure period. Across most brushing conditions.

Delta two values were higher than delta one for the black mulberry and pomegranate samples. In black mulberry, the fluoride-free brushed group and the non-brushed group exhibited significantly greater delta two values compared with the fluoride brushed group. For pomegranate, the non-brushed group showed notably elevated delta one values, however, orange and saline demonstrated minimal interval-related changes.

Analysis of Delta three revealed significant effects of juice-type and brushing-type while their interaction was not significant. Total color change was greatest in black mulberry and pomegranate, and significantly exceeded that of orange and saline across all brushing conditions. Maintaining standardized conditions including consistent brushing, daily solution renewal, and accurate spectrophotometer calibration is critical for reliable results.

Future studies can evaluate more beverages, pediatric medications, and preventive agents to better understand and reduce discoloration in primary teeth.