Community Dental Health

cover art

Cover Date:
September 2015
Print ISSN:
0265 539X
Vol:
32
Issue:
3

Dental caries in Iraqi 12-year-olds and background fluoride exposure

Community Dental Health (2015) 32, 163–169 Received 24 September 2014; Accepted 3 April 2015

doi:10.1922/CDH_3514Matloob07

Dental caries in Iraqi 12-year-olds and background fluoride exposure
M.H. Matloob


Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of dental caries among 12-year-old Iraqi schoolchildren ingesting water and beverages with low fluoride content. Method A total of 1,526 twelve-year-olds were clinically examined in autumn 2013 for dental caries in accordance with the WHO criteria. Two questionnaires were distributed to gather data concerning daily intakes of drinking water, beverages and tea extracts and how often participants brushed their teeth, visiting doctors and eating snacks between meals. The fluoride content of 279 brands of drinking water, beverages, tea, toothpaste and table salts were determined using fluoride ion selective electrode. Results The mean DMFT and SIC index were 1.6 (SD 1.7) and 3.5 (SD 1.4) respectively. The caries prevalence was 64.0%, and the Care Index was 1.9%. The average fluoride content of drinking water, beverages, toothpaste and food was less than 0.50 mg/kg. Conclusion The mean DMFT value for Iraqi 12-year-olds is still higher than the WHO category of very low caries (<1.2). The daily fluoride exposure by 12-year-old Iraqi children was too low for caries prevention. In order to improve the oral health status, the Iraqi health authorities had to focus more care on the preventive oral health programme.

Key words: caries, Iraqi DMFT index, significant caries index (SiC), fluoride in water and beverages

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
163
Page End
169
Authors
M.H. Matloob

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editoral
  2. 130
  3. 131

  1. Relationship between family characteristics and children’s regular toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste
  2. 132
  3. 136

  1. Effect of family caregiver oral care training on stroke survivor oral and respiratory health in Taiwan: a randomised controlled trial
  2. 137
  3. 142

  1. Exploring the association between oral health literacy and alexithymia
  2. 143
  3. 147

  1. Association of oral health literacy with oral health behaviour and oral health status in Belarus
  2. 148
  3. 152

  1. Association between childhood socioeconomic position and periodontitis in Korean adults
  2. 153
  3. 157

  1. Clustering of risk indicators for periodontal disease: A population based study
  2. 158
  3. 162

  1. Dental caries in Iraqi 12-year-olds and background fluoride exposure
  2. 163
  3. 169

  1. Fluoride content and labelling of toothpastes marketed in India
  2. 170
  3. 173

  1. Attitudes and practices regarding preventive dentistry among Libyan dentists
  2. 174
  3. 179

  1. Comparing UK, USA and Australian values for EQ-5D as a health utility measure of oral health
  2. 180
  3. 184

  1. Socioeconomic inequalities in dental caries among 5-year-olds in four Chinese provinces
  2. 185
  3. 189

  1. Dental survey of the Falkland Islands’ child population
  2. 190
  3. 192