The effect of fluoridated milk on root surface lesion progression in an
in vitro pH cycling experiment was reported by Ivancakova et al.
(2003). After artificial lesion formation, root tissue sections were cut
and coated with acid-resistant varnish except for the initial root surface,
which remained exposed to subsequent treatments. The cycling involved
4 hours demineralisation, 6 hours treatment and 14 hours
remineralisation for 2 weeks. Lesion progression was measured by polarised
light microscopy and microradiography. Treatment groups
were water controls, milk alone, milk + 2.5 ppm F, and milk + 5 ppm
F. All lesions progressed during the experiment, but the depth of the
lesion increased least in the 5 ppm F milk. The increase with milk alone
was significantly lower than in the control group. Integrated mineral
loss rose in all groups, significantly less in the 2.5 ppm F milk group
than the control group. The results provide evidence for a possible
protective effect against root caries in the adult population.