[Caries and fluorine: role of water factor, problems and solutions].

The epidemiological studies of the severity and spread of caries of deciduous and permanent teeth in Moscow schoolchildren (n = > 20,000) aged 7-17 years in relation to the content of fluoride in the drinking water, to the use of fluorine-containing tablets and varnishes have provided evidence for the high efficiency of drinking water fluorination for the primary prevention of caries as compared with other preventive alternatives. Based on sanitary studies, two main lines are now under way in solving the problem connected with low dietary fluoride intake: the introduction of routine water-purifying fluorine generators (based on a new technology of fluorination of limited water volumes for drinking and cooking) and the setting-up of plants manufacturing bottled drinking waters containing the optimum or higher fluorine levels for provision of different population groups, primarily children and pregnant women in particular.