Fluoride and Preventing Cavities in the 21st Century – #365papers – 2017 – 22

#365papers for January 22, 2017

Petersen and Lennon, 2004, Effective use of fluorides for the prevention of dental caries in the 21st century: the WHO approach: Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, v 32, p. 319-21.

What’s it about?

This paper discusses the need of fluoride in the prevention of cavities, and in particular how best to deliver fluoride to the teeth of people living in developing countries. Fluoridated water works great, but isn’t always feasible, thus fluoridating salt or milk might be necessary.

Why does it matter?

Oral heath is important to the overall health of people. Fluoride is shown to reduce the number of cavities that people have, so it’s important to insure that fluoride gets to people somehow.

Why did I read this?

This wound up in the ‘read’ pile because it was suggested as a reference in a manuscript I’m working on. I wanted to know why the editor recommended it. So I read it.