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Fluoride exposure from ingested toothpaste in 4-5-year-old Malaysian children
Bee Siew Tan1, Ishak Abdul Razak
1Stomatology Unit, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. bsiew_tan@yahoo.com
Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology
|September 1, 2005
Summary
Malaysian children ingested 32.9% of toothpaste, leading to fluoride exposure. Parents should supervise toothpaste use to manage fluoride intake in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Public Health
- Fluoride Toxicology
Background:
- Assessing fluoride exposure is crucial for preventing dental fluorosis.
- Understanding fluoride intake from toothpaste is vital for young children who are more susceptible to overexposure.
- Previous studies have varied in their methods for determining ingested fluoride from toothpaste.
Purpose of the Study:
- To directly determine fluoride (F) exposure from ingested toothpaste in 4-5-year-old Malaysian children.
- To correlate fluoride ingestion with the amount of toothpaste used.
- To provide data for parental guidance on safe toothpaste usage.
Main Methods:
- A sub-sample of 200 4-5-year-old siblings from a larger fluorosis study participated.
- Fluoride ingested from toothpaste (FI) was measured using the duplicate technique under home conditions.
- Fluoride ions were quantified using a selective ion electrode.
Main Results:
- Children ingested an average of 32.9% of the toothpaste applied to the brush.
- Mean fluoride exposure from ingested toothpaste was 213.5 microg/day or 131.9 microg per brushing.
- Ingested fluoride levels showed high variability among subjects.
Conclusions:
- The study found the lowest reported fluoride ingestion per brushing, within the recommended pea-size range.
- A significant correlation exists between the amount of toothpaste dispensed and fluoride ingested.
- Parents are advised to supervise toothpaste application and quantity to limit fluoride intake.