Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a dispensing device specially developed to standardize the amount of fluoride dentifrice to be delivered on the toothbrush. The amount and variability of dentifrice applied using this device were compared with recommendations to apply dentifrice amounts equivalent to “rice size” or “pea-size”. Material and Methods: Two dentifrices, one used by children (NaF/Silica-based) and one used by the entire family (MFP/CaCO3-based), and five methods to apply them on the toothbrush (pea and rice sizes, and three different amounts using the developed device) were tested by 12 volunteers. The amount of dentifrice placed on the toothbrush was weighed, and the experiment was repeated three times. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey test . Results: No differences were observed between the dentifrices used (p>0.05), but the method of application significantly affected the amount of dentifrice applied (p<0.05). Smaller amounts (p<0.05) and less variability were observed when the volunteers used the dispenser device than when they were asked to apply a pea or rice size . Conclusion: The device can help parents and caregivers to safely use fluoride dentifrice on children.
Highlights
The importance of fluoride dentifrice to control caries in children is based on evidence [1]
analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the effect of factor dentifrice type on the amount of dentifrice used by volunteers was not statistically significant (p>0.05), but the effect of the application method was significant (p
The amount of applied fluoride dentifrice was significantly higher for pea size application, followed by rice size, and by the three marks of the dispenser (Table 1)
Summary
The importance of fluoride dentifrice to control caries in children is based on evidence [1]. The International Association of Paediatric Dentistry highlighted as one of four actions to reduce early childhood caries to “perform twice-daily toothbrushing with fluoridated toothpaste (at least 1000 ppm) in all children, using an age-appropriate amount of paste” [7]. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry [8] and the American Academy of Pediatrics [9], among other professional organizations, have endorsed the amount of a smear (in the size of a rice grain) of fluoride dentifrice for all children starting at tooth eruption regardless of caries risk; and after the age of three years, a pea-size amount of fluoride dentifrice may be used [9]. Different approaches have been recommended to deliver reduced amounts of dentifrice, such as the transversal technique [10]. ~0.25 g is the amount expected to be applied when using the transversal technique [10], or a “pea-size” [9], American, British, and German parents apply more, from 0.41 to 0.61 g when instructed to apply the amount of a pea grain [11]
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