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The value of self-applied fluorides at home
International Dental Journal
|September 1, 1981
Summary
Fluoride protects teeth by integrating into enamel during development and maintaining optimal levels at the plaque-enamel interface. Combining these strategies offers maximum protection against dental decay.
Area of Science:
- Dental research
- Caries prevention
- Fluoride chemistry
Background:
- Decades of interdisciplinary research have elucidated fluoride's mechanisms in preventing dental decay.
- Basic science findings inform the rational development of clinical fluoride delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the dual mechanisms of fluoride action for optimal dental caries protection.
- To highlight the importance of regular, low-level fluoride exposure for tooth health.
Main Methods:
- Review of basic and clinical research on fluoride's anticariogenic effects.
- Analysis of fluoride delivery systems for enamel development and plaque-enamel interface.
Main Results:
- Two key modes for fluoride efficacy: incorporation into developing enamel and maintaining optimal levels at the plaque-enamel interface.
- Regular, low-dose fluoride delivery is crucial for both mechanisms.
- Water fluoridation is the ideal public health measure; alternative daily home-use vehicles are effective in its absence.
Conclusions:
- Combining fluoride delivery during tooth development and active carious attack maximizes caries prevention.
- While water fluoridation is optimal, other daily fluoride applications significantly reduce caries activity.
- Public acceptance and implementation require advancements in health policy and behavioral science.
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