Five-year double-blind fluoridated milk study in Scotland

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Fluoride Research

Background:

• Dental caries remains a significant public health issue in children.
• Fluoride is a well-established agent for caries prevention.
• Alternative methods of fluoride delivery, such as through milk, warrant investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of daily fluoridated milk consumption in preventing dental caries in young children.
• To compare the caries preventive effects of fluoridated milk with non-fluoridated milk over a 5-year period.

Main Methods:

• A 5-year, double-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 187 children aged 4.5-5.5 years.
• Children received either 200 ml of fluoridated milk (1.5 mg F-) or control milk daily.
• Dental caries (DMFT/DMFS) was assessed annually, with a focus on permanent teeth.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant reduction in decayed, missing, or filled permanent teeth (DMFT) was observed in the fluoridated milk group by the fourth year (P < 0.01).
• DMFS reductions for unerupted permanent teeth reached 39.6% by year four and 48.0% by year five.
• Reduced cavitation was consistently noted in the fluoridated milk group throughout the study.

Conclusions:

• Daily consumption of fluoridated milk is an effective strategy for reducing dental caries in young children's permanent teeth.
• The caries inhibition observed with fluoridated milk is comparable to that of artificial water fluoridation.
• Fluoridated milk presents a viable alternative for fluoride delivery in caries prevention programs.