Review on Caries Preventive Effect of Fluoride Toothpaste

Abstract

Dental caries is defined as localized destruction of tooth tissue, mainly due to bacterial action causing
demineralized foci on peripheral surfaces. Normally, children have the habit of brushing their teeth once a
day using fluoridated toothpaste. Due to this,there is less decay of tooth in them, as fluoride being a mineral
prevents tooth decay. There is a relationship between fluoride toothpaste and dental caries, if a toothpaste
having 1000ppm of fluoride content, is associated with less decay of tooth, so the fluoride has caries
preventive effect. The aim of the review is to find out the role of fluoride in caries preventive effect, to know
fluoride toothpastes correct concentration to avoid fluorosis and other fluoride related ailments and finally
to understand the advantages of fluoride toothpaste as preventive effect of dental caries. This research was
conceived as scoping literature review. This review has accessed existing reviews and researches in the last
decade mostly, through PMC database, MeSH, Google Scholar, Pubmed, Medline, CrossRef and the search
terms included were ‘dental caries’, ’fluoride toothpaste’, ’caries preventive effect’, ’fluoride’. Considered
research was limited to manuscripts related to English, dental caries, fluoride toothpaste (as caries preventive
effect) and this review did not include or consider other oral problems, other preventive methods of dental
caries, natural components that prevent caries attack. The description of included studies for the review is
tabulated. The role of fluoride in dental caries, its correct concentration in fluoride toothpaste is known and
the preventive effect of fluoride toothpaste on dental caries is well understood through this review. With
these general guidelines, there is more possibility of preventing dental caries and excessive fluoride will not
lead to fluorosis due to awareness of correct concentration of fluoride in fluoride toothpaste.