The dental health of the nation has improved considerably over the last three decades. Today, in most instances, dental diseases are preventable or controllable by adopting appropriate daily oral care regimes and by regular dental attendance.
A paper looking at the prevention of dental disease including dental caries reviewed the hierarchy of evidence available to support a range of preventive measures for home use.1 This strength of evidence supports advice and interventions including the use of a fluoride mouthrinse as a preventive measure for dental caries stating that:
- Ideally rinses should be used at a different time of day to toothbrushing to maximise the topical effect.
- Mouthrinses containing 0.05 per cent sodium fluoride (225ppm fluoride) for daily use have been shown to reduce caries significantly in the permanent dentition of children over six years and adolescents.
- The effectiveness of a fluoride mouthrinse as an adjunct to the daily use of fluoride toothpaste has been evaluated in adults and the elderly.
In conclusion this paper states that fluoride rinses are effective in reducing caries in at risk patients over six years of age and may reduce root caries and reverse existing carious lesions in adults and the elderly.
With the current drive for greater emphasis on the prevention of ill health, and a reduction in inequalities of health, by the giving of advice and application of informed actions it is important the whole dental team give consistent messages and that those messages are up-to-date and correct. Delivering better oral health – an Evidence-based toolkit for prevention2 launched by the health department in 2007 aims to provide practical evidenced based guidance to help promote oral health and prevent oral diseases.
This guidance document includes prescribing a daily fluoride rinse containing 0.05 per cent fluoride (225ppm F) for patients eight years and over as a way of increasing fluoride availability to prevent caries.
Colgate FluoriGard rinses contain 0.05 per cent fluoride satisfying a range of patient needs with a choice of formulations. Colgate FluoriGard Daily rinse is clinically proven to reduce caries3 and is listed on the Dental Practitioners' Formulary as sodium fluoride mouthwash 0.05 per cent.
Colgate FluoriGard Alcohol Free rinse offers fluoride protection without alcohol making it ideal for patients who may prefer to choose an alcohol free option.
References
1. RM Davies. The prevention of dental caries and periodontal disease from the cradle to the grave: What is the best available evidence? Dental Update; May 2003: 170–179.
2. Delivering better oral health-an evidenced based toolkit for prevention, July 2009.
3. Marinho et al, (2002); Cochrane Database Syst. Rev.no 3.