The in vitro investigation of the effects of different containing toothpastes on gingival mesenchymal stem cells

Background Toothpaste is the most commonly used personal care products for maintaining oral hygiene. Its composition varies based on its intended purpose, with surfactants being one key ingredient, notable for their cleaning and foaming properties. In addition, fluoride, which is considered the most effective agent in preventing caries, is frequently included in toothpaste formulas. During brushing, gingival tissue is exposed to these components. Gingiva is a tissue from which gingival mesenchymal stem cells with healing and regeneration potential can be isolated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of these components on the viability of gingival mesenchymal stem cells in real-time. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate, in real-time, the cytotoxic effects that may occur on gingival epithelial stem cells exposed to toothpastes with varying surfactant contents and fluoride. Methods Tissue samples for the isolation of gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) were obtained during the extraction of impacted third molars. Solutions were prepared from ROCS Mg toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), Cocoamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), and ROCS Sensitive containing sodium lauryl sarcosinate, SLS, and Colgate toothpaste with1450 ppm fluoride. Dulbecco's modified eagle medium was used as the negative control group. Cell viability was evaluated in real time with the xCelligence device. Two-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the effects of concentration and toothpaste type, and Tukey Post hoc tests were used for pairwise comparisons. Statistical significance was determined as 0.05 in the study. Results Colgate toothpaste containing SLS and 1450 ppm fluoride exhibited a statistically significantly lower cell viability compared to the other tested toothpastes (p<0.05). This was followed by ROCS Mg toothpaste, which did not contain fluoride but included SLS. ROCS Sensitive toothpaste, containing CAPB and sodium lauryl sarcosinate, showed the highest cell viability. As the concentration of toothpastes increased, a decrease in cell viability was observed. Conclusions As a result of the findings, it was seen that toothpastes containing SLS and fluoride had a more negative effect on the viability of GMSC cells than toothpastes containing different surfactants.