Effect of socioeconomic factors on the observed caries reduction after fluoride tablet and fluoride toothpaste consumption

Abstract

The caries experience of 123 F users (F-tablets and/or F-toothpaste) was compared with that of a group of 226 non-users. F users appeared to have a 15% lower DFS [decayed + filled cavities] score (16.2) than non-users (19.0). After a matching procedure was used to correct for some intervening variables (socioeconomic status, toothbrushing habit, sweet consumption) no difference was found between the groups of F-tablet and F-toothpaste users and the respective groups of matched non-users. The difference in caries experience of 15% between users and non-users remained in only 1 group after the matching procedure, that in which the children used both F-tablets and F-toothpaste.