Effect of a School-based Fluoride Mouth-rinsing Programme on Dental Caries

AIMS: The objective of this study was to evaluate the posttreatment effects of a school-based fluoride mouth-rinsing programme (FMR) on the prevalence of dental caries. METHODS: We included 364 newly enrolled university students aged 20 to 25 years who were not in any FMR and 187 students who had previously participated in such programmes. We calculated the prevalence of dental caries in permanent teeth and the mean decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (DMFS) according to sex, age, participation in FMR, and dental health behaviours. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyse the association between dichotomous variables (caries present or absent) and demographic data, participation in FMR, and dental health behaviours. RESULTS: The difference in the prevalence of dental caries in permanent teeth between the subjects who participated in the FMR (51.3%) and those who did not (64.5%) was statistically significant. There were 39.6% fewer DMFS in the subjects who participated in the FMR at least during elementary school. The multivariate logistic regression model analysis demonstrated that subjects who participated in the FMR at least during elementary school were protected against dental caries as compared to those who did not. Age and sex were risk predictors of dental caries in adults, whilst other variables were not associated with dental caries. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in an FMR at least during elementary school is a predictor for the reduction in the prevalence of dental caries in permanent teeth.