(5) Hydrofluoric (HF) acid and acidulated phosphate fluoride were reported to facilitate micromechanical retention, but HF acid has been found to be a harmful and irritating compound for soft tissues.
Fluoride-containing dentifrices have been in common usage since the 1960s when it was shown that dentifrices containing sodium fluoride (NaF), disodium monofluorophosphate (MFP), stannous fluoride (SnF2), acidulated phosphate fluoride, or amine fluoride reduced the caries rates in children [1].
Professionally applied acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) has been used for dental caries control since the 1970s, and its anticaries effectiveness has been demonstrated.
A dose-dependent effect has been demonstrated in the analysis of enamel resistance to a cariogenic challenge following the application of an acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) or sodium fluoride (NaF) gel, with greater fluoride absorption and a more efficient reduction in demineralisation in enamel treated with APF than with NaF [Delbem and Cury, 2002].