Journal of Dental Research, Vol 62, 746-751, Copyright © 1983 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Effect of continuous fluoride gel use on plaque fluoride retention and microbial activity
L. R. Brown, J. O. White, I. M. Horton, S. Dreizen and J. L. Streckfuss
Twelve consecutive wk of daily five-minute topical applications of 1% NaF
gel by non-cancer control subjects did not significantly affect plaque
concentrations of Streptococcus mutans or Lactobacillus spp. Plaque F-
levels increased 150% (P less than .001), while production of acetate and
lactate decreased 40% (P less than .007) and 66% (P less than .001),
respectively. Long-term (12 wk to more than five yr) fluoride gel use by
post-irradiation xerostomic cancer patients was associated with increases
in plaque F- and decreases in acidogenesis similar to those observed in the
control subjects. Plaque concentrations of cariogenic organisms increased
during the first yr of radiation-induced xerostomia and fluoride gel use,
before starting to decline. Although sustained fluoride treatment increased
(P less than .001) the ratio of fluoride-resistant to fluoride-sensitive
strains, the number of patients harboring detectable S. mutans was
diminished (P less than .001).
