FLUORIDE PROPHYLAXIS OF DENTAL CARIES

Key words: Fluoride, Dental caries, Prevention

There is strong evidence of the efficacy of fluoride in preventing dental caries. Water fluoridation is the most cost-effective method. The optimal concentration of fluoride in the water is 1 mg/l. For all children assuming water with less than 0.7 mg/l, fluoride supplementation is recommended with NaF or Na2FPO3. The recommended dosage, which has been recently reduced to decrease the risk of dental fluorosis, is 0.25-0.5-1 mg/die. Given that 64% of Italian children show one or more dental caries in permanent teeth, gynaecologists, paediatricians and dentists have an important role to play in recommending adequate assumption of fluoride during pregnancy and childhood