Mouthrinses: recent clinical findings and implications for use

Fluoride mouthrinses have been used extensively for the past 15 years to prevent dental caries in children. It has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of dental caries in children by an average of 30 per cent. For individual patients, dentists should continue to recommend fluoride mouthrinsing at home, based upon the individual's caries activity or risk. This is true whether or not the patient is also receiving the benefits of community water fluoridation. School-based fluoride mouthrinsing programmes are recommended only in fluoride-deficient communities. Its effectiveness will be determined by the caries activity of the participants and the cost to reduce the disease level to an anticipated 30 per cent. Among all the topical fluoride agents, fluoride mouthrinses remain a safe and effective means of controlling dental decay in children and adolescents.