Effect of continuous fluoride gel use on plaque fluoride retention and microbial activity.
Twelve consecutive wk of daily five-minute topical applications of 1% NaF gel by non-cancer control subjects did not significantly affect plaque concentrations of Streptococcus mutans or Lactobacillus spp. Plaque F- levels increased 150% (P less than .001), while production of acetate and lactate decreased 40% (P less than .007) and 66% (P less than .001), respectively. Long-term (12 wk to more than five yr) fluoride gel use by post-irradiation xerostomic cancer patients was associated with increases in plaque F- and decreases in acidogenesis similar to those observed in the control subjects. Plaque concentrations of cariogenic organisms increased during the first yr of radiation-induced xerostomia and fluoride gel use, before starting to decline. Although sustained fluoride treatment increased (P less than .001) the ratio of fluoride-resistant to fluoride-sensitive strains, the number of patients harboring detectable S. mutans was diminished (P less than .001).
D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D005459:Fluorides / Q000378:metabolism*; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000378:metabolism; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects
D000085:Acetates; D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D005782:Gels; D007773:Lactates; D005459:Fluorides