Fluoride supplements and caries in a non‐fluoridated child population

Abstract

In Norway, there is no water fluoridation and little naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water. Fluoride toothpaste is used by 95% of the population and there is a long tradition of use of fluoride supplements. The purpose of this study was to analyse whether children who used fluoride toothpaste regularly and complied with the recommendations for use of fluoride supplements had less caries than other children at the age of 8 years. Most fluoride supplements sold in Norway are lozenge-type tablets, which allow for extended enamel exposure to fluoride. All children (n = 551) born in 1988 living in a suburban community in Norway were invited to participate. In those who participated (n = 470), caries was registered clinically and radiographically and parents provided data on use of supplements. Thirty-eight percent of the children had used fluoride supplements regularly during the period 0.5 to 4.0 years of age and 66% used supplements regularly at the age of 6 to 8 years. Multivariate analyses showed that the children complying with the recommendations for use of fluoride supplements during the period 0.5 to 4.0 years of age had lower caries experience (dmfs) and fewer decayed surfaces (ds) in primary teeth than other children. No significant associations were found between supplement use in childhood and caries prevalence (DMFS) or number of decayed surfaces (DS) in permanent teeth at the age of 8 years. Supplement use from 6 to 8 years of age was not associated with caries occurrence either in primary or in permanent teeth. Both mother's education and the quality of dental hygiene were inversely associated with caries occurrence.

A seven-year survival analysis of caries onset in primary second molars and permanent first molars in different caries risk groups determined at age two years

“…The present study confirms investigations in other studies showing that the effect of fluoride tablets is associated to some extent with caries onset in primary molars, but no associations were found in permanent molars [21,22]. Perhaps the positive fluoride effect at 2 years of age is not as long-lasting as are the negative effects of the risk factors.…”

Effects of fluoride tablets on caries and fluorosis occurrence among 6‐ to 9‐year olds using fluoridated salt

“…Our data confirm previous findings in a population with even lower caries levels at a similar fluorosis prevalence in Norway, where mostly lozenges were recommended (17, 32). Moreover, in Norwegian children lower caries experience has been attributed to increased sales of fluoride supplements (33).…”

“…In these six studies mainly beneficial effects from the intake of fluoride supplements on caries incidence were reported. Data from retrospective (17) and cross‐sectional studies (18) corroborated these results. Only four of these studies studied fluorosis prevalence or incidence (12, 14, 17, 18) simultaneously.…”

“…Only four of these studies studied fluorosis prevalence or incidence (12, 14, 17, 18) simultaneously. Few studies (12, 17) on the risks (fluorosis) and benefits (lower caries occurrence) of fluoride supplementation in young children were conducted during the last two decades when a lower caries prevalence has been reported throughout Europe (19) as it was observed in the earlier studies.…”

Fluoride/vitamin D tablet supplementation in infants—effects on dental health after 10 years

“…In addition, fluoride supplements also demonstrate local preventive effects, which should be taken into consideration. Common recommendations that the lozenge be held in the mouth for some time, as well as the assumption that fluoride-tablet supplementation will be continued after the first year of life, may also yield posteruptive effects [33]. Another finding of this study was that early vitamin D supplementation might have the same effects described for fluoride tablets.…”