Total fluoride intake in children aged 22-35 months in four Colombian cities.
OBJECTIVE
To obtain information on the level of total fluoride intake from food, beverages and toothpaste by children at the age of 22-25 months of low and high socioeconomic status (SES) in major Colombian cities.


METHODS
Daily fluoride intake was assessed by the duplicate plate method and by recovered toothpaste solution during a 3-day period and afterwards analysed by the microdiffusion method.


RESULTS
Mean daily fluoride intake was 0.11 (+/-0.10), 0.14 (+/-0.12), 0.10 (+/-0.07) and 0.07 (+/-0.06) mg/kg body weight (bw)/day in Bogota, Medellin, Manizales and Cartagena, respectively. The total fluoride intake was higher in low-SES subjects in the cities of Medellin and Bogota. In the high-SES children of the four cities, the average intakes ranged from 0.06 to 0.09 mg F/kg bw, whereas, the low-SES children in three cities had intakes between 0.11 and 0.21 mg F/kg bw (Cartagena, 0.07). Toothpaste (containing 1000-1500 ppm F, with 1500 ppm F being more common) accounted for approximately 70% of total fluoride intake, followed by food (24%) and beverages (<6%). More than half the children had their teeth brushed by an adult, on average twice a day, using 0.22-0.65 g of toothpaste.


CONCLUSIONS
Children from three Colombian cities have a mean total daily fluoride intake above the 'optimal range'. Health authorities should promote an appropriate use of fluoridated dentifrices discouraging the use of dentifrices containing 1500 ppm F in children younger than 6 years of age and promoting a campaign of education of parents and oral health professionals on adequate toothbrushing practices.
Franco
Angela M
AM
Research Center, CES University School of Dentistry, Calle 10 A No. 22-4, Medellín, Columbia. amfranco@ces.edu.co
Martignon
Stefanía
S
Saldarriaga
Alexandra
A
González
María C
MC
Arbeláez
María I
MI
Ocampo
Alvaro
A
Luna
Luz M
LM
Martínez-Mier
E Angeles
EA
Villa
Alberto E
AE
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D005502:Food; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012923:Social Class; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000737:chemistry; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D014100:Toothpastes; D005459:Fluorides