Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine fluoride intake and urinary fluoride excretion levels in children exposed to fluoride from diet and dentifrice. Data were obtained from 31 children from a day care located in Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela. Fluoride intake from diet was determined by using the “duplicate plate technique”, and estimation of the ingested from dentifrice was made by the difference between fluoride in toothpaste taken for use and the fluoride in toothpaste used but not swallowed. Samples of foods, beverages and dentifrices were analyzed using the micro diffusion method. The results showed that children have a mean daily total fluoride intake for 15 - 35, 36 - 47 and 48 - 72 months-old of 0.07 ± 0.03; 0.09 ± 0.03 and 0.08 ± 0.02 mg/kg /day. Mean urinary fluoride concentrations values were 0.79 ± 0.51, 0.92 ± 0.30 and 0.83 ± 0.40 mg/L in 15 - 35, 36 - 47 and >48 months-old children and were not significantly different (p ≤ 0.05) when data from the three groups of children were compared. Age and gender did not affect urine total volume, urinary flow rate, urinary fluoride concentration and fluoride excretion rate (P > 0.05). The results from our study indicate that children have a mean fluoride intake and excretion within the expected value for optimally fluoridated areas.

Key words: Fluoride intake, dental fluorosis, rate fluoride excretion, children.