Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon; University of Clermont Auvergne, EA 4847, Centre de Recherche en Odontologie Clinique, Clermont-Ferrand, France; Laboratoire de Recherche Craniofaciale, Unité de Santé Orale, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon, Phone: +961 70 716252, e-mail:
J Contemp Dent Pract. 2020 Oct 1;21(10):1098-1104.
To assess the fluoride concentration in water sources and its association with caries index in children living in Tripoli, Lebanon.
The concentration of fluoride was measured in tap and bottled water using ion chromatography. For tap water, eight water sources were evaluated before and after domestic distribution during June and November 2016. For bottled water, seven brands available on the market were tested. Caries were recorded in 402 children using DMFT/dmft indices. A questionnaire was distributed to parents to gather information about sociodemographic characteristics, the source of water consumed, the consumption of fluoride supplements, fluoridate salt, tea and sweets, and the frequency of toothbrushing.
The fluoride concentration in tap water was not significantly different from the optimal concentration ( value > 0.05). However, the amount of fluoride in bottled water (0.14 ± 0.698 mg/L) was significantly lower than the optimal amount of fluoride recommended by the World Health Organization for decay prevention (0.5-1 mg/L) ( value < 0.001). The prevalence of caries was elevated in children aged 5 years (90.5%) and 12 years (89.6%). The carious indices were lower in children who consume tap water, tea, and fluoridated salt and those who consume less sweet.
Additional studies covering all Lebanese regions should be performed to develop a national policy concerning fluoride-based scientific evidences.
Pedodontists should take in consideration the source of water consumed by the patient before prescribing a fluoride supplementation to avoid an overconsumption. They should promote effective oral hygiene methods and nutritional education and encourage regular tea consumption as an affordable source of fluoride to prevent caries.
评估黎巴嫩的黎波里儿童生活用水源的氟化物浓度及其与龋齿指数的关系。
采用离子色谱法测量自来水中和瓶装水中的氟化物浓度。对于自来水，在 2016 年 6 月和 11 月期间，评估了家庭分配前后的 8 个水源。对于瓶装水，测试了市场上的 7 个品牌。使用 DMFT/dmft 指数记录 402 名儿童的龋齿情况。向家长分发问卷，收集有关社会人口特征、饮用水源、氟化物补充剂、氟化物盐、茶和甜食的消耗以及刷牙频率的信息。
自来水中的氟化物浓度与最佳浓度（>0.05）无显著差异。然而，瓶装水中的氟化物含量（0.14±0.698mg/L）明显低于世界卫生组织推荐的用于预防龋齿的最佳氟化物含量（0.5-1mg/L）（<0.001）。5 岁（90.5%）和 12 岁（89.6%）儿童的龋齿患病率较高。饮用自来水、茶和氟化物盐以及较少食用甜食的儿童的龋齿指数较低。
应该在所有黎巴嫩地区进行更多的研究，以制定基于氟化物的科学证据的国家政策。
在开氟化物补充剂之前，儿科牙医应考虑患者的饮用水源，以避免过度摄入。他们应该推广有效的口腔卫生方法和营养教育，并鼓励经常喝茶，因为茶是一种负担得起的氟化物来源，可预防龋齿。
