Gains in oral health and improved quality of life of 12–13-year-old Nepali schoolchildren: outcomes of an advocacy project to fluoridate toothpaste

Abstract

To report on gains in oral health and improved quality of life of 12-13-year-old Nepali schoolchildren five and six years after the introduction of fluoride toothpaste in 1999. Cross sectional baseline surveys in 1999 and 2001, and follow up surveys in 2004 and 2005 were multi-stage cluster sampling in design. Urban and rural schools in Central, Far Western, Mid Western and Western Developmental Regions of Nepal. 2,770, 12-13-year-olds in 1999 and 1,001, 12-13-year-olds in 2004 were examined regionally. 637 12-13-year-olds from Kathmandu valley and 448 12-13-year-olds from Tansen municipality were examined in 1999. The same schools in Kathmandu valley and Tansen were visited in 2005 and 761 and 482 12-13-years from Kathmandu valley and Tansen were examined. 6,064 8-15-year-olds in 2001 and 1,001 12-13-year-olds in 2004 participated in the collection of information on oral hygiene practice and quality of life. Examinations were carried out by trained and calibrated examiners using the WHO diagnostic criteria for caries and questionnaires were interview administered by trained interviewers. Advocacy for fluoride toothpaste between 1997 and 2002. There was a 26.6% decline in caries prevalence and 38.0% decrease in 12-13-year old DMFT from 1999 to 2004 throughout four of five regions of Nepal. Approximately 65-75% of the 12-13-year-olds used fluoride toothpaste from 1999 to 2004. School specific data reveals a reduction in DMFT of 43.8% in Tansen and 53.6% in the Kathmandu valley from 1999 to 2005. From 2001 to 2004, report of oral pain decreased by 10%. The most likely reason for the decline in dental caries and reduction in oral pain is the widespread consumption of fluoride toothpaste by the 12-13-year-old schoolchildren.