Fluoridated milk as a dental caries preventive measure

Abstract

SummaryDental caries is a preventable disease, often affecting young children, particularly those living in areas of social deprivation. Water fluoridation is an effective way of reducing dental caries (WHO 1969), however, it is not always possible, for various reasons, to introduce this public health measure. Consideration has been given to the use of other vehicles to deliver fluoride. This paper reviews how one of these, namely milk, has been utilised globally. Milk is an important feature in the diet of children and has significant public health benefits. The bioavailability of fluoride is not significantly reduced by milk and results from clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of fluoridated milk in preventing dental caries. Globally, fluoridated milk is delivered to different target groups in a variety of forms. When urinary excretion has been monitored as a marker of children's fluoride exposure, the results indicate that the fluoride excretion in the children drinking fluoridated milk is in agreement with normative values. The growth of the international milk fluoridation programme has demonstrated that milk can be used as an alternative vehicle for fluoride and should be considered where fluoridation of the water supplies is unlikely.