title: Drinking water fluoridation and caries prophylaxis: with special consideration of the experience in the former East Germany.
abstract: Drinking water fluoridation for caries prophylaxis is not a means of primary prevention: i.e., avoidance of sugar and microorganisms in the oral cavity; but rather a means of secondary prevention: e.g., prevention of bacterial production of carboxylic acid from sugar, and therapy: e.g., enhancement of enamel resistance to demineralization by incorporation of fluoride in remineralization of the enamel surface. Currently available epidemiologic studies on the effects of drinking water fluoridation reveal: reduction of the incidence of caries, particularly in children no detrimental health effects; cosmetically undesirable dental fluorosis may occur, however. Nevertheless, introduction of drinking water fluoridation in Germany is not recommendable because of: the greater effectiveness of primary caries prevention, the acceptance of which is reduced, however, by drinking water fluoridation the at least equal prophylactic effect of fluoride via other routes, e.g. via toothpaste the narrow range between beneficial and detrimental dosage the avoidance of fluoride-enriched waste water the prerogative of minimal manipulation of drinking water content.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Allgemeine Hygiene und Umwelthygiene, University of Tübingen.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schweinsberg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Netuschil
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005457:Fluoridation; D005459:Fluorides / Q000009:adverse effects; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D005459:Fluorides