Anticariogenic effect of fluoridated milk and water in rats

The aim of the study was to get further experimental data on the anticariogenic effect of sodium fluoride (NaF) when administered in milk or water. Thirty six weanling Osborne-Mendel rats were divided into two experimental groups (A, B) of 12 rats each and two control groups (C, D) of six rats each. During the experimental period of four weeks all animals were superinfected with Strep. mutans (NCTC 10449), kept in an automatic feeding machine and given a cariogenic diet (MIT 301). Group A received sodium fluoride (NaF) in water (15 ppm) and group B in ultra high temperature treated milk. Groups C and D respectively received plain milk and distilled water. Group A did not show significantly lower caries reduction compared with the control groups. Group B had significantly the lowest caries scores compared with all other groups. Scores in group C (plain milk) were lower than those in groups D (plain water). The results suggest that the anticariogenic effect of NaF is more pronounced when the vehicle is milk instead of water.