Article title: Recommendations for Using Fluoride to Prevent and Control Dental Caries in the United States

Resident: Cho

Author(s): Adair, et al.

Journal: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (CDC)

Year. Volume (number). Page #’s: 2001. 50. 1-26.

Major topic: Fluoride

Minor topic: Dental Caries

Type of Article: Report

Main Purpose: Provide recommendations for using fluoride to prevent and control dental caries in the United States

Overview of Method of Research: Recommendations were developed by work group of 11 specialists in fluoride research or policy convened by CDC during the late 1990s and reviewed by an additional 23 specialists.

Findings/Key points/Summary:

- Fluoride inhibits demineralization of sound enamel and enhances remineralization.

- As fluoride concentrates in the dental plaque, it inhibits the process by which cariogenic bacteria metabolize carbohydrates to produce acid and affects bacterial production of adhesive polysaccharides.

- Risk for fluorosis for permanent upper incisors: 15-24 months for boys, 21-30 months for girls

- Counsel parents and caregivers regarding use of fluoride toothpaste by young children, especially those aged younger than 2 years old due to risk of fluorosis

- Supervise use of fluoride toothpaste among children aged <6> swallow a mean of 0.3g of toothpaste per brushing -> use pea-sized amount

- Risk of fluorosis limited to children aged 8 years and younger. Enamel is no longer susceptible once preeruptive maturation is complete.

- Judiciously prescribe fluoride supplements

- Dietary fluoride supplements: 1.0, 0.5, 0.25mg fluoride tablets and lozenges

- Continue and extend fluoridation of community drinking water -> in 1989, annual cost 51 cents per person; maximum allowable limit is 4ppm; 0.7-1.2ppm optimal concentration in community drinking water

- Most bottled water contain <0.3ppm style="mso-spacerun:yes">

- Target mouthrinsing and high-concentration fluoride products to persons at high risk -> most common fluoride compound used in mouthrinse is sodium fluoride.

Assessment of Article:

Informative article. It brought up an interesting idea of developing a toothpaste containing around 550ppm fluoride instead of 1000ppm fluoride for children to use. This would possibly minimize the risk of fluorosis for children.