Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1996 Summer;56(4):226-8.
doi: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.1996.tb02441.x.

Drinking water fluoride levels, dental fluorosis, and caries experience in Brazil

D F Cortes  1 , R P Ellwood, D M O'Mullane, J R Bastos
Affiliations

Drinking water fluoride levels, dental fluorosis, and caries experience in Brazil

D F Cortes et al. J Public Health Dent. 1996 Summer.

Abstract

Objectives: The main aim of this study was to consider the association between water fluoride levels and caries prevalence in three Brazilian populations.

Methods: A total of 457 6-12-year-old lifetime residents from three economically deprived groups with 2-3, 0.7, and less than 0.01 ppm F in their water supplies were examined. Dental caries was recorded on permanent upper central incisors and first molars and all primary teeth (dmft).

Results: There was a significant trend (P < 01) for the mean dmft to decrease with increasing levels of fluoride in the drinking water. Caries experience in the six permanent teeth was significantly lower (P < 01) in the area with 0.7 ppm F than in the other two groups For the 2-3 ppm F group significantly more caries was found in subjects with higher TF scores (P < 05).

Conclusion: Optimization of fluoride levels in the drinking water remains a valuable dental public health measure in Brazil.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources