Patterns of fluoride mouthrinse and gel use by children 6 to 96 months of age.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper was to report longitudinally on parental reports of mouthrinse/gel use at home and at preschool/elementary school until age 8.


METHODS
A cohort recruited at birth was followed in the Iowa Fluoride Study (IFS). Demographic data were collected at baseline. Pretested questionnaires were sent to participants at 3- to 6-month intervals, from ages 6 to 96 months, concerning many aspects of fluoride exposures and intake--including home use of fluoride mouthrinse/gel and participation in fluoride mouthrinse programs at preschool/elementary school. Summary statistics were computed for each period. Associations between home fluoride mouthrinse/gel use and demographic covariates were assessed.


RESULTS
There were 1,388 participants. However, the number of respondents for each study interval varied from 549 to 800. Most participants were white, with about two thirds of parents having some college education. The percentage with use at home/preschool/elementary school during the period increased from less than 1% for 12 months to 3% at 48 months, 11% at 72 months, and 25% at 96 months. Fluoride mouthrinse use at preschool/elementary school was consistently less common than mouthrinse use at home. There were no significant associations between fluoride mouthrinse/gel use and demographic covariates. Patterns of fluoride mouthrinse use among users (N=205) indicated that, when children became older, higher proportions used fluoride mouthrinse and used them more consistently over time.


CONCLUSIONS
A relatively small percentage of children used fluoride mouthrinse/gel, and this proportion increased with age.
Hamasha
Abed A
AA
Department of Preventive Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. hamasha@just.edu.jo
Levy
Steven M
SM
Warren
John J
JJ
D000367:Age Factors; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D003802:Dentifrices; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007484:Iowa; D009067:Mouthwashes; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012571:School Dentistry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D003802:Dentifrices; D005782:Gels; D009067:Mouthwashes; D005459:Fluorides