Feasibility of Using Sodium Bicarbonate Solution as a Damage-limiting Strategy for Erosion Lesions

Purpose: One of the recommended measures to prevent and control dental erosion is the oral rinse with sodium bicarbonate solution, which would neutralise the dietary acids. However, the prescription of this aqueous suspension has been made on an empirical basis. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate whether the demineralisation caused by erosive episodes could be controlled by the potential neutralising effect exerted by a sodium bicarbonate solution. Materials and Methods: Bovine enamel slabs were embedded in epoxy resin, ground/polished and tested for initial surface microhardness. Twice daily for 2 days, specimens were subjected to an erosive challenge with orange juice in an orbital shaker. Following each erosive episode, specimens (n = 15) were immersed for either 30 or 60 seconds in a sodium bicarbonate solution or deionised water. The negative control group was left untreated. For the remaining daily time, specimens were kept in artificial saliva. New microhardness indentations were then made as described for the initial measurements. Results: ANOVA applied to the percentage of surface microhardness change (%ΔSMH) showed no statistically significant difference among treatments (P = 0.5810). Conclusion: The use of sodium bicarbonate solution, at least under in vitro conditions, may not be a feasible strategy for managing enamel erosion. Keywords: dental enamel, erosion lesions, microhardness, sodium bicarbonate solution