Fluoride intake and fractional urinary fluoride excretion of Colombian preschool children.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to assess the total fluoride intake and the fractional urinary fluoride excretion (FUFE) relative to the customary daily fluoride (F) ingestion in preschool children between 48-59 months of age. DESIGN: Total fluoride ingestion, from dietary and toothpaste samples was determined in 120 young children, dwellers of four Colombian cities. A "duplicate plate" technique was used. In Colombia, table salt is fluoridated to a concentration of between 180-220 mg F/kg. Individual (n=96) FUFE values were calculated as the ratio between the total amount of F excreted in the urine and the total amount of F ingested, over a 24-hour period. RESULTS: The average daily F-intake was 0.098 mg F/kg/day; 95% C.I. = 0.085-0.111 mg F/kg/day. The proportion of fluoride ingestion from toothpaste to the total fluoride intake was higher than 66% in all cities. The average FUFE values of subjects from each of the four Colombian cities under study did not differ significantly (ANOVA; p >0.91). The average 24-hour FUFE value for preschool children was 0.33; 95% C.I. = 0.29-0.37. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained suggest that preschool children residing in Colombian urban areas are ingesting amounts of fluoride above the upper limit of the proposed safe threshold. FUFE values are similar to those reported in previous studies where daily F-doses were equal or higher than 0.064 mg F/kg.

Total fluoride intake in children aged 22-35 months in four Colombian cities.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain information on the level of total fluoride intake from food, beverages and toothpaste by children at the age of 22-25 months of low and high socioeconomic status (SES) in major Colombian cities. METHODS: Daily fluoride intake was assessed by the duplicate plate method and by recovered toothpaste solution during a 3-day period and afterwards analysed by the microdiffusion method. RESULTS: Mean daily fluoride intake was 0.11 (+/-0.10), 0.14 (+/-0.12), 0.10 (+/-0.07) and 0.07 (+/-0.06) mg/kg body weight (bw)/day in Bogota, Medellin, Manizales and Cartagena, respectively. The total fluoride intake was higher in low-SES subjects in the cities of Medellin and Bogota. In the high-SES children of the four cities, the average intakes ranged from 0.06 to 0.09 mg F/kg bw, whereas, the low-SES children in three cities had intakes between 0.11 and 0.21 mg F/kg bw (Cartagena, 0.07). Toothpaste (containing 1000-1500 ppm F, with 1500 ppm F being more common) accounted for approximately 70% of total fluoride intake, followed by food (24%) and beverages (<6%). More than half the children had their teeth brushed by an adult, on average twice a day, using 0.22-0.65 g of toothpaste. CONCLUSION: Children from three Colombian cities have a mean total daily fluoride intake above the 'optimal range'. Health authorities should promote an appropriate use of fluoridated dentifrices discouraging the use of dentifrices containing 1500 ppm F in children younger than 6 years of age and promoting a campaign of education of parents and oral health professionals on adequate toothbrushing practices.