Biomaterial Database

A fluoride analysis program to reduce tooth decay in rural children. 1989

W A Nichols

Daily ingestion of optimal amounts of fluoride has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of tooth decay in children. Fluoridated drinking water is the most effective and efficient primary source of fluoride. Children who do not drink sufficient fluoridated water should receive supplemental fluoride in the form of drops and tablets. Fluoride supplements beginning with the newborn infant at two weeks of age should be prescribed in accordance with the dosage schedules of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association. Fluoride levels of the drinking water source must be determined before prescribing a fluoride supplement. The Arkansas Department of Health offers dentists and physicians a program to analyze the fluoride content of private well or spring water. The program operates through local County Health Departments. Information about the fluoride level in the drinking water of a CWS is available by contacting either that particular CWS or the Engineer Division, Arkansas Department of Health. Questions about fluoride supplementation and/or optimally fluoridated CWS's should be directed to Dr. Wharton A. Nichols, Office of Dental Health, Arkansas Department of Health, 4815 West Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205, (501) 661-2483.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003731	Dental Caries	Localized destruction of the tooth surface initiated by decalcification of the enamel followed by enzymatic lysis of organic structures and leading to cavity formation. If left unchecked, the cavity may penetrate the enamel and dentin and reach the pulp.	Caries, Dental,Carious Lesions,Dental Cavities,Dental Cavity,Dental Decay,Dental White Spots,Carious Dentin,Decay, Dental,Dental White Spot,White Spot, Dental,White Spots, Dental,Carious Dentins,Carious Lesion,Cavities, Dental,Cavity, Dental,Dentin, Carious,Dentins, Carious,Lesion, Carious,Lesions, Carious,Spot, Dental White,Spots, Dental White
D005457	Fluoridation	Practice of adding fluoride to water, and other food or beverages, for the purpose of preventing DENTAL CARIES.	Milk Fluoridation,Salt Fluoridation,Water Fluoridation,Fluoridation, Milk,Fluoridation, Salt,Fluoridation, Water
D005459	Fluorides	Inorganic salts of hydrofluoric acid, HF, in which the fluorine atom is in the -1 oxidation state. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Sodium and stannous salts are commonly used in dentifrices.	Fluoride
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D001131	Arkansas	State of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA bounded on the north by Missouri, on the east by Tennessee and Mississippi, on the south by Louisiana, and on the west by Oklahoma and Texas.