CommentaryFluoride Isn't Just for Kids
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Older adults are at risk for new dental caries
Older adults are retaining more of their teeth than ever before. Over the past several decades, the percentage of older adults who have lost all their natural teeth has decreased steadily. In the 1950s, more than half of adults aged 65 and older had lost all their teeth. However, by the early 1990s, less than 30% had done so. The most recent state-by-state report card on healthy aging shows that the percentage of older adults with complete tooth loss ranges from a low of 13% in California to a
Fluoride works to prevent caries in adults, too
Our understanding of how fluoride works has changed over time. In the early days of fluoride research, incorporation of fluoride into tooth enamel during tooth development and before tooth eruption was thought to be fluoride's primary mechanism of action. More recently, research has shown that fluoride probably plays a more important role in preventing dental caries by being constantly available in small amounts in saliva and plaque to remineralize or “heal” enamel surfaces that were
Current recommendations for fluoride use in adults
For caries prevention, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all persons drink fluoridated water and brush their teeth twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste. In addition, for those at increased risk for decay, additional fluoride may be needed from daily home use of other fluoride products, such as mouthrinses or gels, or from professional application of high-concentration, topical fluoride products, such as fluoride varnish. Other measures, such as targeted
Reducing the caries burden among older adults A call to action for the dental professional team
Members of the dental team can assist efforts to prevent caries among adults and older adults by educating patients about risks, specific factors that can increase risk, and the key role of fluoride, especially in community drinking water and toothpaste, in reducing these risks. Dental professionals should carefully determine the caries risk of their adult patients. They should specifically inquire about the use of medications and complaints of dry mouth that may be reflected in a sudden
References (4)
The state of aging and health in America 2004
Public health and aging: Retention of natural teeth among older adultsUnited States, 2002
MMWR
(2003)
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Drs Gooch and Bailey are Dental Officers, Division of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.