THE EVANSTON DENTAL CARIES STUDY

V. THE FLUORINE CONTENT OF SALIVA AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO (A) ORAL LACTOBACILLUS COUNTS AND (B) THE PREVALENCE OF DENTAL CARIES

¹ Evanston Health Department, Evanston, Ill., and Walter G. Zoller Memorial Dental Clinic, Chicago, Ill.

1. As shown in Table V, the average, the mean, the maximum, and minimum parts per million of fluorine in saliva were lower in the 12-13-14-year age group than in the 6-7-8-year age group. The average for the two groups being 0.20 ppm and 0.25 ppm of fluorine.

2. Tables VI and VII have been prepared to show the relationships of the average oral lactobacillus counts and the average total dental caries experience to the parts per million of fluorine in the saliva. These tables are a regrouping of the previous tables discussed. All of the data which we have presented shows that there is no apparent relationship between the fluorine content of saliva and (A) the oral lactobacillus count or (B) the prevalence of dental caries.