The Effects of an Acid and a Neutral Solution of Sodium Fluoride, on the Incidence of Dental Caries in Young Adults

Abstract

Two 2% NaF solns. (pH 7 and pH 3.5), with Na lauryl sulfate incorporated as a wetting agent, were tested for their abilities to reduce the incidence of dental caries in 25 and 22 young adults, respectively. In each group the teeth on one side of the mouth were given 4 applns. of the indicated soln., while the teeth on the other side served as controls. The group using the soln. at a pH of 7 developed 48 new carious surfaces in the treated teeth after a 2-yr. observation period and 80 in the untreated teeth. The difference in the 2 percentages was highly significant. Similarly significant results were obtained in the special cases of interproximal and secondary caries. Using the soln. at a pH of 3.5, no reduction of caries increment occurred in any category.