title: Changes in plaque fluoride levels by school-based fluoride rinsing and tablet programs in Bangladesh.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of school-based fluoride rinsing and tablet programs on plaque fluoride levels. A total of 42 children (8-9 years) were selected from two neighboring schools in Dhaka, Bangladesh. After caries recordings, vestibular plaque samples from the maxillary central incisors and mandibular first molars were collected and frozen on day 0 (baseline). The subjects of one school (rinsing group, n = 15) rinsed with 0.05% NaF, while those from the other school (tablet group, n = 16) used a 0.5 mg F tablet on the 5 school days during a 3-week period. The surfaces were sampled on the first and last school day every week. The fluoride and protein contents of each sample were analyzed using micro-techniques. The median plaque fluoride levels were 9.1 ppm at baseline in the rinsing group and 2.5 ppm in the tablet group (P < 0.05). This difference could in part be related to reported fluoride toothpaste usage. After 4 days on the fluoride programs, plaque fluoride levels in the rinsing group increased to 27.3, 24.5 and 14.2 ppm in the 3 consecutive weeks. The corresponding values after tablet usage were 8.0, 6.5 and 7.1 ppm, respectively. After 3 days without fluoride during the weekends, levels declined towards baseline values in both groups. Hence, the plaque fluoride levels in 8 to 9-year-old Bangladeshi children were increased by both rinsing and tablet programs, but the effect was not detectable 3 days later.
authors.affiliation: Dhaka Dental College, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Abu Nasir Mohammad Nazmul
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Fabio Correia
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.forename: Frithjof Ramm
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: von der Fehr
authors.forename: Pål
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arneberg
mesh_terms: D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000737:chemistry*; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D008963:Molar; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000737:chemistry; D015995:Prevalence; D012571:School Dentistry; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013607:Tablets
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D009067:Mouthwashes; D013607:Tablets; D005459:Fluorides