REVIEW OF FLUOROSIS RISK OF SELF-APPLIED TOPICAL FLUORIDES - DENTIFRICES, MOUTHRINSES AND GELS

The literature on the risks of dental fluorosis and the benefits from the use of fluoride dentifrices, mouthrinses and self-applied gels has been briefly reviewed. While there are several studies that have inve stigated the impact of dentifrices on the development of dental fluoro sis, results are mixed. Although there is far less research investigat ing the relationship between the use of mouthrinses and dental fluoros is, the available evidence generally fails to identify this technology as one of the major causes of dental fluorosis. Although there is lit tle direct evidence to suggest that the use of self-applied fluoride g els contributes to the development of dental fluorosis, ingestion of f luoride from these systems is of genuine concern and their use by pres chool age children is not recommended.