Plaque Fluoride Concentrations in a Community without Water Fluoridation: Effects of Calcium and Use of a Fluoride or Placebo Dentifrice

Vol. 39, No. 2, 2005

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Original Paper

Plaque Fluoride Concentrations in a Community without Water Fluoridation: Effects of Calcium and Use of a Fluoride or Placebo Dentifrice
G.M. Whitford^a, M.A.R. Buzalaf^c, M.F.B. Bijella^c, J.L. Waller^b

^aDepartment of Oral Biology and Maxillofacial Pathology,
^bOffice of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Ga., USA;
^cDepartment of Biological Sciences, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, Bauru, Brazil

Address of Corresponding Author

Caries Res 2005;39:100-107 (DOI: 10.1159/000083154)

Key Words

Calcium
Dental caries
Dental plaque
Fluoridated dentifrice
Fluoride
Water fluoridation

Abstract

The results of a recent study by Whitford et al. [Caries Res 2002;36:256-265] with subjects whose drinking water was fluoridated led to two major conclusions: (1) Compared to the use of a placebo dentifrice, plaque fluoride concentrations ([F]) throughout much of the day are not significantly increased by the use of an F dentifrice but (2) they are positively related to plaque [Ca] (p = 0.0001). The present double-blind, double-crossover study with 16 subjects used the same protocol and was done to: (1) determine the effects of the use of an F dentifrice on salivary and plaque [F] in a community without water fluoridation and (2) further examine the relationship between plaque [Ca] and [F]. Following the use of an F dentifrice or placebo for one week, whole saliva and plaque were collected 1.0 and 12 h after the last use of the products. The study was repeated to include rinsing with a 20 mmol/l CaCl₂ solution immediately before the use of the dentifrices. The CaCl₂ rinse had only minor effects on salivary [Ca] and [F] and none on the plaque concentrations. Unlike the results found in the fluoridated community, all salivary and plaque [F] associated with the use of the F dentifrice were significantly higher than those associated with the use of the placebo. The results suggest that the cariostatic effectiveness of an F dentifrice should be greater in areas without water fluoridation. As noted previously, plaque [F] were positively related to plaque [Ca] (p = 0.0001).

Author Contacts

Gary M. Whitford
Department of Oral Biology and Maxillofacial Pathology
School of Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia
Augusta, GA 30912-1129 (USA)
Tel. +1 706 721 2031, Fax +1 706 721 6252, E-Mail gwhitfor@mail.mcg.edu

Article Information

Received: September 12, 2003
Accepted after revision: May 20, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 31

Medline Abstract (ID 15741721)

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