From:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26629557

1. Chin J Dent Res. 2015;18(4):235-40. doi: 10.3290/j.cjdr.a35148.

Effect of Melamine Sponge on Tooth Stain Removal.

Otsuka T, Kawata T.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the stain removal ability of melamine sponge before
aesthetic tooth whitening in extracted teeth.
METHODS: Melamine sponge of thickness 40 mm was compressed and the destruction of
the partition wall structure during the compression process was examined under a 
stereoscopic microscope. An extracted human tooth was cleaned by normal polishing
or with melamine sponge for 90 s. To evaluate the stain level, the tooth surfaces
were photographed under a stereoscopic microscope at 0, 30, 60 and 90 s. The
residual stained region was traced in a high-magnification photograph, and the
stain intensity was presented as a change, relative to the intensity before the
experiment (0 s).

RESULTS: Mechanical cleaning by toothbrushing produced polishing scratches on the
tooth surface, whereas use of the melamine sponge resulted in only minimal
scratches. As the compression level increased, the stain-removing effect tended
to become stronger.

CONCLUSION: Melamine sponge can remove stains from the tooth surface more
effectively and less invasively compared to a conventional toothbrush. As no new 
scratches are made on the tooth surface when using a melamine sponge brush, the
risk of re-staining is reduced. Cleaning using a melamine sponge brush can be
easily and effectively performed at home and in a dental office.

DOI: 10.3290/j.cjdr.a35148 
PMID: 26629557