Fluoride mouth rinsing proficiency of Japanese preschool-aged children

Abstract

That Japanese preschoolaged children could perform fluoride mouth rinsing safely and efficiently.

National survey on school-based fluoride mouth-rinsing programme in Japan: regional spread conditions from preschool to junior high school in 2010

“…For these reasons, it is estimated that fluoride mouth-rinsing is being performed in groups and at home by about 100 million people throughout the world19,20. In particular, reports have claimed that fluoride mouth-rinsing for preschool children is very safe in Japan compared with Western countries1–6, and it is recommended that children begin fluoride mouth-rinsing either through the S-FMR or at home, from age 4 or 5 years5,6. A WHO website (WHO Bank of Ideas) also states that the S-FMR performed at preschools is extremely beneficial for countries such as Japan that do not fluoridate the water21.…”

“…Implementation rates and participation rates are even lower in elementary and junior high schools when compared with preschools and kindergartens. One factor accounting for the higher implementation rate in preschools and kindergartens may be that it is being pursued on the basis of safety1–6. While it is easy for preschools and kindergartens to implement the S-FMR, increasing implementation rates at elementary and higher level schools remains a challenge.…”

“…The website also contains information on the status of S-FMR adoption by groups of preschool children, implementation procedures (with pictures), volume of post-rinsing residue and preventive effects, and gives examples of implementing the programme under appropriate management 21,22 . Fluoride mouth-rinsing is thus an important means for preventing caries in permanent teeth in almost all life stages in Japan and the S-FMR should be more widely carried out as an important public measure for children in particular [1][2][3][4][5][6]23 .…”

“…From the position of public health characteristics and the mechanisms underlying fluoride effects, WF should be prioritised as an administration measure. As this has yet to come into practice in Japan, S-FMR is a promising next-best policy to correct health inequalities caused by dental caries [3][4][5][6] .…”

Population Oral Health in Japan: Promoting Fluoride Mouth Rinsing Programs Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process Model—Pathway Determination

“…This suggests that the collective perceptions of dental health experts were that the successful development and implementation of fluoride mouth rinsing programs should recognize the fundamental role of the political process (will) at the municipal level which acts though the provision of reliable scientific information about fluoride applications. Since the safety and effectiveness of the use of fluorides, including fluoride mouth rinsing programs has been proved in Japan (Kobayashi et al, 1995, Sakuma et al, 2004, the power to enforce actions through the political process seems to be identified as the most important factor to develop programs. The criterion "expertise on dental health" was assigned low weight therefore illustrating the lack of influence at the municipal level of such expertise.…”