FLUORIDE IN SALIVA

WHAT IS FLUORIDE?• Fluoride is a natural mineral found throughout the earth's crust

and widely distributed in nature.• Some foods and water supplies contain fluoride.

HOW DOES FLUORIDE WORK?Fluoride helps prevent cavities in two different ways: Fluoride concentrates in the growing bones and developing teeth of children, helping to harden the enamel on baby and adult teeth before they emerge.Fluoride works during the demineralization and remineralization processes that naturally occur in your mouth.

FLUORIDE IN SALIVA• Salivary fluoride levels vary from 0.01-0.10 mg/L depending on the

water fluoride level and the fluoride usage and diet of the individual.being the watery substance that constantly circulates the oral cavity, is capable of impacting both the remineralisation and demineralisation processes.

FLUORIDE IN SALIVA• Remineralization occurs on a daily basis after an acidogenic

challenge through the presence of saliva.•  Calcium, phosphate and fluoride found in saliva, are required for

effective remineralization and maintenance of the enamel surface integrity.

• Many researchers now believe that continuous low concentrations of fluoride in saliva, particularly at the plaque/saliva/enamel interface are necessary for caries prevention.

RESEARCH BY K.J.TOUMBA, M.E.J. CURZON (2001)

The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible relationship between the prevalence of dental caries in the primary dentition and the fluoride concentration in saliva in 8-year-old children.

The study population consisted of 172 children aged 8 years living in the inner city area of Beeston of Leeds in the UK.

Each child was examined for dental caries and unstimulated whole mixed saliva was collected for 2 minutes in the morning at least 2 hours post-prandial. Saliva samples were transported to the laboratory for immediate analysis or frozen for later analysis.

All saliva samples were analyzed for fluoride concentration using an ion-specific electrode after acid diffusion.

In results when the children were grouped according to their caries prevalence and salivary fluoride levels a statistically significant relationship was found the primary dentition children with zero caries were shown to have significantly, higher salivary fluoride levels than caries prone children.

THANK YOU