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Fluoride mouth rinsing proficiency of Japanese preschool-aged children
S Sakuma1, S Ikeda, H Miyazaki
1Division of Preventive Dentistry, Dept of Oral Health Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 2-5474 Gakkocho-dori, Niigata City, 951-8514, Japan. shihopre@dent.niigata-u.ac.jp
Insights
Japanese preschoolers can safely use fluoride mouth rinses, retaining minimal amounts of the solution. This study confirms the efficacy of daily fluoride mouth rinsing programs for young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Public Health
- Fluoride Therapy
Background:
- Dental caries remains a significant public health concern for preschool-aged children.
- Fluoride mouth rinsing programs are a common preventive strategy.
- Assessing the safety and efficacy in specific populations, like Japanese preschoolers, is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety of fluoride mouth rinsing in Japanese preschool children.
- To quantify the amount of fluoride solution swallowed during rinsing.
- To determine the fluoride retention levels in the oral cavity after rinsing.
Main Methods:
- A school-based fluoride mouth rinse program (FMR) involving 769 children using 0.05% sodium fluoride daily.
- Two age groups (younger: 4y 10m, older: 5y 4m) participated for 2 and 8+ months, respectively.
- Fluoride retention was calculated by measuring the difference between prepared solution and expectorated rinse.
Main Results:
- No participants swallowed the entire fluoride solution.
- Fluoride retention rates were 12.0% (0.19 mg) in younger children and 10.7% (0.17 mg) in older children.
- The majority of children retained less than 0.5 mg of fluoride, with weekly interval surveys confirming low retention.
Conclusions:
- Japanese preschool-aged children can safely perform fluoride mouth rinsing.
- The fluoride mouth rinsing program was demonstrated to be efficient in this population.
- Low fluoride retention suggests a minimal risk of systemic fluoride overexposure.
Aim:
To determine whether Japanese preschool-aged children swallow fluoride solution while rinsing and how much fluoride was retained in the mouth after rinsing.
Methods:
The subjects were 769 children who participated in a school-based fluoride mouth rinse programme (FMR) using 0.05% sodium fluoride solution daily. The group of younger, mean age of 4 years and 10 months, experienced the FMR for two months, and the group of older children, mean age of 5 years and 4 months, did it for at least 8 months, rinsing for a minute using 7 ml of the solution. The amount of fluoride retained in the mouth was estimated as the amount present in the net rinsing solution prepared minus what returned to the solution expectorated.
Results:
No child swallowed all the solution. The rate of fluoride retained was 12.0% (mean = 0.19 mg) in the younger group and 10.7% (mean = 0.17 mg) in the older. Only six children retained over 0.5 mg of fluoride. With the extra survey using weekly intervals, the amount retained was below 0.5 mg in all children.
Conclusion:
That Japanese preschoolaged children could perform fluoride mouth rinsing safely and efficiently.
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