Poster Presentation

Abstract

Objectives: In the present study the fluoride intake from diet and dentifrice were estimated. However, 3 constituents of the diet were evaluated separately: solids; water and milk; other beverages. Methods: Thirty-tree 2-3-year-old children participated in the study. The duplicate plate method was used for diet collection in two seasons (winter and summer) and in 2 separate days over a 1-week period (one during the week and another during one day on the following weekend). Fluoride intake from dentifrice was estimated in 2 following days. Fluoride analysis in diet and dentifrice were analyzed with the ion-specific electrode (Orion 9409) after HMDSfacilitated diffusion. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, Tukey test and Student's t test. Results: Mean (±SD) fluoride intake from diet and dentifrice was 0.025 ± 0.013 and 0.106 ± 0.085 mg/Kg body weight/day, respectively, totalizing 0.130 mg / Kg body weight/day. Among the constituents of the diet, water and milk had a significantly higher contribution to the fluoride intake (0.184 ± 0.108 mg/day, p<0.0001), when compared to solids (0.072 ± 0.045 mg/day) and other beverages (0.066 ± 0.043 mg/day). Conclusion: The daily dose of fluoride ingested by the children represents a risk for the development of dental fluorosis. In addition, the dentifrice alone is responsible for 80% of the daily fluoride intake, while among the constituents of the diet, water and milk are the most important contributors.