[Fluoride content of tea and amount ingested by children].

The fluoride concentration on their respective infusions was determined in the twelve most popular brand of tea which can be obtained in Valparaiso, Chile. Fluoride concentration was measured 5, 45 and 180 minutes after tea preparation, by using an specific fluoride electrode. The amount of ingestion of tea in children was estimated by means of a survey on 303 children from a sample of 7,690 boys and girls living in a fluoridated area. The data revealed a large variability in fluoride concentration depending on the brand of tea. Mean fluoride concentration was 2.36 mg F/l. at the five first minutes. Sixty eight per cent of children drinking tea as usual beverage, therefore it was estimated that about 22.1% of this sample have risk of dental fluorosis.