Fluoride Mouthwashes, Fluoride Dentifrices, and Other Uses of Fluorides in Control of Caries

Abstract

The clinical use of topical fluoride therapy by methods other than by making direct application of NaF to the teeth is reviewed. Most of the work reported upon was carried out by the author and his co-workers. Three studies on the use of mouthwashes are listed. Two gave questionable results and one using an acidulated mouth wash produced an increased activity of-dental caries in children. Three dentifrice studies using liquid and paste dentifrices containing fluoride gave negative results, but one using powdered fluorapetite claims a 60% caries reduction. Three studies using a prophylactic cleaning mixture of pumice, H2O2 and NaF gave 2 positive and one negative result. A report on the caries reduction resulting from the use of CaF lozenge is questioned. Another short term study with the same lozenges failed to reveal a reduction in the lactobacillus count. In expts. duplicating the author''s Brockton study which first demonstrated the effectiveness of NaF applications in reducing dental caries, no caries reduction was found on making applications of lead fluoride or indium nitrate.