25 January 2024

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Fluoride supplements, gels, varnishes and sealants reduce the risk of juvenile tooth decay

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Preventive interventions regarding oral health and in particular dental caries in young people between five and 17 years old, concluding that fluoride gels and supplements, but also fluorinated varnishes and sealants contribute to reducing the risk of tooth decay by improving oral health. This is confirmed by a systematic review published by Jama network.

The first author of the research Roger Chou of the Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology at the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland explains that «children and adolescents are vulnerable to oral health problems often caused by tooth decay due to bacteria adhering to the teeth that metabolize sugars to produce acid which over time demineralises the structure of the tooth causing discomfort and pain.”

The study was conducted to provide the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) with information and recommendations for implementing dental interventions in children and adolescents. For this purpose, the researchers consulted three medical databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) selecting dental screening studies conducted in primary care settings without the need for a dental specialist. Preventive interventions such as behavioral counseling, clinical referrals, and preventive medications/treatments that did not require medical approval were also included.

Three systematic reviews including 54 studies from 53 publications (20,648 participants) and 23 individual papers (15,026 participants) met the inclusion criteria, and meta-analysis of the data indicated that fluoride supplements, especially in regions with non-fluoridated water, low socioeconomic status or severe caries burden, lead to small decreases in decayed teeth.

But the best results on tooth decay are due to fluoride gels, varnishes and sealants prescribed by the dentist, with sealants at the top of the effectiveness ranking.

«Although the data examined are not sufficient to reach firm conclusions, interventions involving the use of fluoride supplements, gels, varnishes and sealants are all associated, although to a variable extent, with an improvement in oral health and a reduction in risk of tooth decay in children and adolescents" concludes Chou.

Source: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2811428