Many potential anticaries agents other than fluoride have been identified in a range of laboratory models. This review covers only those agents which have demonstrated significant activity in either animal caries models, in situ models, or human clinical trials, including those measuring plaque acid formation. The agents which so far have been identified can be divided into 5 categories:
(1) phosphorus-containing agents, (2) calcium-containing agents, (3) antimicrobials and antibiotics, (4) metals, and (5) miscellaneous agents.
Although many potential agents have been identified in various models, very few have been taken forward to full anticaries testing in humans. Chlorhexidine is an exception, and certain agents such as calcium glycerophosphate have been shown to result in greater anticaries activity when added to fluoride. In the future, non-fluoride agents which modify the production of acid in plaque-either antimicrobially, biochemically, or directly-appear to have the most promise for use in topical products and may prove to be effective anticaries systems. Phosphates have shown encouraging activity as diet additives.
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