Guidelines for the use of dietary fluoride supplements in Australia.
A survey in 1988 of brands of fluoride supplements available in a non-fluoridated town in Western Australia, and tablets described in pharmaceutical product registers, revealed that six brands of tablets and one brand of solution (drops) were on the market. Tablets contained 2.2 mg or 1.1 mg NaF; the solution contained 2.2 mg NaF per mL. All products provided age-dose schedules which would give fluoride supplementation at levels greater than the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines. In one case, infants following the schedule would receive four times the recommended dose for the first two years of life. Compliance with several of the age-dose schedules would be certain to cause significant dental fluorosis. Whether the others caused fluorosis would depend on the quantity of fluoride in the diet, and consumption of fluoride toothpaste. The survey showed a generalized disregard on the part of the ethical pharmaceutical industry for the risk of dental fluorosis, and reveals a need for a voluntary, or legally enforced, code of conduct for manufacturers of fluoride supplements. The value of guidelines which are not monitored is doubtful.
P J
PJ
Riordan
D001315:Australia; D004994:Ethics, Pharmacy; D005457:Fluoridation; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000209:etiology*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards
D012969:Sodium Fluoride