title: Total daily fluoride intake and the relative contributions of foods, drinks and toothpaste by 3- to 4-year-old children in the Gaza Strip - Palestine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children in Gaza Strip suffer from a high prevalence of dental fluorosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate and compare total daily fluoride (F) intake (TDFI) and investigate the relative contributions of different sources of F to TDFI, in 3- to 4-year-old children in Gaza Strip, exposed to low (<0.7 mg/litre), moderate (0.7-1.2 mg/litre) or high (>1.2 mg/litre) F concentrations in tap water.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 3-day food diary and samples of tap water, drinks, foods, toothpastes and toothbrushing expectorate were collected from 216 children receiving low (n = 81), moderate (n = 72) or high (n = 63) F concentrations in tap water. F concentration of samples was analysed using an F-ion-selective electrode. TDFI from all sources was estimated. Data were analysed by anova and Tukey's test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (±SD) F concentration in low, moderate and high F tap waters was 0.21(±0.15), 0.91(±0.13) and 1.71(±0.35) mg/litre, respectively. Mean (±SD) TDFI was 0.02(±0.01), 0.04(±0.01) and 0.05(±0.03) mg/kg bw/day, respectively (P < 0.0001). Foods made the largest contribution (63.9%) to TDFI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total daily fluoride (F) intake increased as F concentration in tap water increased. Foods were the primary source of F. Programmes for monitoring fluoride expose should consider the fluoride concentration of water used for food preparation and local dietary behaviours.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Ramallah, State of Palestine.
authors.forename: Lamis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abuhaloob
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maguire
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moynihan
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D017736:Ion-Selective Electrodes; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East; D014099:Toothbrushing; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000737:chemistry*; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D014100:Toothpastes; D005459:Fluorides