Evidence of Benefit of Fluoride
There is strong evidence supporting many preventive interventions that can be implemented as part of primary medical care.
- Recommendations for Children Birth Through Age 5 (United States Preventive Services Task Force 1996, 2014, 2021)
- Fluoridated Toothpaste (I, A)
- Fluoride Varnish (B)
- Fluoride Supplements (B)
- General Population (USPSTF 1996)
- Fluoridated toothpaste (I, A)
- High Risk Populations (MMWR 2001)
- Topical fluoride gels (I, A)
- Fluoride varnishes on permanent teeth (I, A)
- Fluoride supplements if water <0.3 ppm (6-12-year-olds) (I, A)
"I" indicates that a recommendation is based on evidence from properly constructed randomized controlled trials.
"A" indicates a high certainty that net benefit is substantial.
"B" indicates high certainty that the net benefit is moderate or moderate certainty that the net benefit is moderate to substantial
References
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2nd edition, 1996.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations for using fluoride to prevent and control dental caries in the United States. MMWR. 2001; 50 (No. RR-14).
Marinho VC, Higgins JP, Logan S, Sheiham A. Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. The Cochrane Library 2:2004.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. Prevention of Dental Caries in Children Younger Than 5 Years: Screening and Interventions. Dec 2021. Click here
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. Oral Health in Children and Adolescents Aged 5 to 17 Years: Screening and Preventive Interventions. Click here