Urinary fluoride levels in 6-year-old children using adult toothpaste in an optimally fluoridated community

摘要

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess urinary fluoride (F) levels of 6-year-old children living in an optimally fluoridated community before and after brushing their teeth with adult toothpaste. Materials and methods: The study involved 47 pre-school children aged 6. Urine samples were collected in the morning after an overnight fast and between 1 and 2 hours after supervised tooth brushing with 2 g of toothpaste containing 1,250 ppm of F. Analyses were performed using an ion-selective F electrode. Results: Urinary F levels in children ranged widely. Brushing with adult toothpaste between sample collections did not result in significant increases of urinary F (p > 0.05); however, 2 subjects had unusually high (> 4 mg/L) levels of F in urine after the procedure. Conclusion: Despite supervision and rinsing the mouth after brushing, fluoridated toothpaste turned out to be a significant source of F intake in some individuals. It gives rise to the question whether children at the age of 6 years are cooperative enough to use a full portion of fluoridated toothpaste.