Fluoride is a mineral found in nature that helps prevent cavities in two ways. It concentrates in developing teeth and bones, helping to harden enamel. It also works during the natural demineralization and remineralization processes that occur in the mouth. Salivary fluoride levels vary depending on water fluoride levels and diet, and saliva impacts these processes. A study found that 8-year-old children with no cavities had significantly higher salivary fluoride levels than caries-prone children, indicating a relationship between dental caries and salivary fluoride concentration.

1. FLUORIDE IN
SALIVA

2. WHAT IS FLUORIDE?
• Fluoride is a natural mineral found throughout the earth's crust
and widely distributed in nature.
• Some foods and water supplies contain fluoride.

3. HOW DOES FLUORIDE WORK?
Fluoride helps prevent cavities in two different ways:
Fluoride concentrates in the growing bones and developing teeth of
children, helping to harden the enamel on baby and adult teeth before
they emerge.
Fluoride works during the demineralization and remineralization
processes that naturally occur in your mouth.

4. FLUORIDE IN SALIVA
• Salivary fluoride levels vary from 0.01-0.10 mg/L depending on the
water fluoride level and the fluoride usage and diet of the individual.
being the watery substance that constantly circulates the oral cavity, is
capable of impacting both the remineralisation and demineralisation
processes.

5. FLUORIDE IN SALIVA
• Remineralization occurs on a daily basis after an acidogenic challenge
through the presence of saliva.
• Calcium, phosphate and fluoride found in saliva, are required for
effective remineralization and maintenance of the enamel surface
integrity.

6. • Many researchers now believe that continuous low concentrations
of fluoride in saliva, particularly at the plaque/saliva/enamel
interface are necessary for caries prevention.

7. RESEARCH
BY K.J.TOUMBA, M.E.J. CURZON (2001)
The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible relationship between the
prevalence of dental caries in the primary dentition and the fluoride
concentration in saliva in 8-year-old children.
The study population consisted of 172 children aged 8 years living in the
inner city area of Beeston of Leeds in the UK.
Each child was examined for dental caries and unstimulated whole
mixed saliva was collected for 2 minutes in the morning at least 2 hours
post-prandial. Saliva samples were transported to the laboratory for
immediate analysis or frozen for later analysis.

8. All saliva samples were analyzed for fluoride concentration using an ion-
specific electrode after acid diffusion.
In results when the children were grouped according to their caries
prevalence and salivary fluoride levels a statistically significant relationship
was found
the primary dentition children with zero caries were shown to have
significantly, higher salivary fluoride levels than caries prone children.

9. THANK YOU