The usage of dentifrice was studied in 179 Danish children of approximate ages 3, 7, 9, and 16 years. The usage was assessed by measurement of the aggregated quantities used at home during a two-week period. Information was also obtained on toothbrushing habits. The mean daily usage with the same brand of dentifrice increased from 1.1 g among 3-year-olds to 1.5, 2.3, and 3.4 g among 7-, 9-, and 16-year-olds, respectively. The amount used showed a significant, positive relationship to the orifice diameter of the tube. However, the lengths of ribbon of paste squeezed out per brushing were quite similar, regardless of tube orifice diameter. When the usage data were considered in light of the fact that young children swallow an average of 15 to 30% of the dentifrice used for brushing, it became obvious that a notable number of the 3- and 7-year-olds can be expected to ingest fluoride from 1000- and 1500-ppm-F dentifrices in quantities exceeding recommended daily doses.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Barnhart, W.E.; Hiller, L.K.; Leonard, G.J.; and Mi-Chaels, S.E. (1974): Dentifrice Usage and Ingestion Among Four Age Groups, J Dent Res53: 1317-1322.
2.
Baxter, P.M. (1980): Toothpaste Ingestion During Toothbrushing by School Children, Br Dent J148: 125-128.
3.
Brown, R.H. (1982): Evidence of Decrease in the Prevalence of Dental Caries in New Zealand, J Dent Res61 (Sp Iss): 1327-1330.
4.
Bruun, C.; Givskov, H.; and Thylstrup, A. (1984): Whole Saliva Fluoride After Toothbrushing with NaF and MFP Dentifrices with Different F Concentrations, Caries Res18: 282-288.
5.
Bruun, C.; Qvist, V.; and Thylstrup, A. (1987): Effect of Flavour and Detergent on Fluoride Availability in Whole Saliva After Use of NaF and MFP Dentifrices, Caries Res21: 427-434.
6.
Bælum, V.; Fejerskov, 0.; Manji, F.; and Larsen, M.J. (1987): Daily Dose of Fluoride and Dental Fluorosis, Tandlaegebladet10: 452-456.
7.
Danmarks Statistik (1975 and 1984): External Trade of Denmark. Manufactors Sales of Commodities.
8.
Dowel, T.B. (1981): The Use of Toothpaste in Infancy, Br Dent J150: 247-249.
9.
Dowel, T.B. and Joyston-Bechal, S. (1981): Fluoride Supplements-Age Related Dosages, Br Dent J150:273-275.
10.
Drummond, B.K. and Curzon, M.E.J. (1985): Urinary Excretion of Fluoride Following Ingestion of MFP Toothpastes by Infants Aged Two to Six Years, J Dent Res64: 1145-1148.
11.
Eichler, 0.; Appel, I.; and Burschel, R. (1955): Uber die Möglichkeit der Giftwirkung einer fluorhaltiger Zahnpasta , Dtsch Zahnärztl Z10: 1310-1312.
12.
Ekstrand, J. (1987): Pharmacokinetic Aspects of Topical Fluorides, J Dent Res66: 1061-1065.
13.
Ekstrand, J. and Ernebo, M. (1980): Absorption of Fluoride from Fluoride Dentifrices , Caries Res14: 96-102.
14.
Ekstrand, J.; Koch, G.; and Peterson, L.G. (1983): Plasma Fluoride Concentrations in Pre-school Children After Ingestion of Fluoride Tablets and Toothpaste, Caries Res17: 379-384.
15.
Ericsson, Y. and Forsman, B. (1969): Fluoride Retained from Mouthrinses and Dentifrices in Pre-school Children, Caries Res3: 290-299.
16.
Fejerskov, O.; Antoft, P.; and Gadegaard, E. (1982): Decrease in Caries Experience in Danish Children and Young Adults in the 1970's, J Dent Res61 (Sp Iss): 1305-1310.
17.
Glass, R.L. (1982): Secular Changes in Caries Prevalence in Two Massachusetts Towns, J Dent Res61 (Sp Iss): 1352-1355.
18.
Glass, R.L.; Peterson, J.K.; Zuckerberg, D.A.; and Naylor, M.N. (1975): Fluoride Ingestion Resulting from the Use of a Monofluorophosphate Dentifrice by Children, Br Dent J138: 423-426.
19.
Hargreaves, J.A.; Ingram, G.S.; and Wagg, B.J. (1970): Excretion Studies on the Ingestion of a Monofluorophosphate Toothpaste by Children, Caries Res4: 256-268.
20.
Hargreaves, J.A.; Ingram, G.S.; and Wagg, B.J. (1972): A Gravimetric Study of the Ingestion of Toothpaste by Children, Caries Res6: 237-243.
21.
Heifetz, S.B. and Horowitz, H.S. (1984): The Amounts of Fluoride in Current Fluoride Therapies: Safety Considerations for Children, J Dent Child51: 257-269.
22.
Hesselgren, K. and Thylstrup, A. (1982): Development in Dental Caries Among Children in 1961-79 in a Danish Community with School Dental Service, Community Dent Oral Epidemiol10: 276-281.
23.
Larsen, M.J.; Kirkegaard, E.; Fejerskov, O.; and Poulsen, S. (1985): Prevalence of Dental Fluorosis after Fluoride-gel Treatments in a Low-fluoride Area, J Dent Res64: 1076-1079.
24.
Larsen, M.J.; Kirkegaard, E.; Poulsen, S.; and Fejerskov, O. (1986): Enamel Fluoride, Dental Fluorosis and Dental Caries Among Immigrants to and Permanent Residents of Five Danish Fluoride Areas , Caries Res20: 349-355.
25.
National Health Service of Denmark (1978): Cirkulære om fluorholdige farmaceutiske specialiteter til brug for tandlægevirksomhed , Sundhedsstyrelsen J.nr. 1400-7-1977.
26.
Socialstyrelsen, Sweden (1977): Cirkular om använding af fluorider i karies-profylaktiskt syfte, SoSF (M)26.
27.
Thylstrup, A.; Bille, J.; and Bruun, C. (1982): Caries Prevalence in Danish Children Living in Areas with Low and Optimal Levels of Natural Water Fluoride, Caries Res16: 413-420.
28.
Thylstrup, A.; Fejerskov, 0.; Bruun, C.; and Kann, J. (1979): Enamel Changes and Dental Caries in 7-year-old Children Given Fluoride Tablets from Shortly After Birth, Caries Res13: 265-276.
29.
Whitford, G.M.; Allmann, D.W.; and Shahed, A.R. (1987): Topical Fluorides: Effects on Physiologic and Biochemical Processes, J Dent Res66: 1072-1078.
