Abstract
"Kenkou Nippon 21" was proposed by the Ministry of Welfare and Health in 2000, and as one of the targets of dental health improvement, it stated that the rate of fluoride dentifrice use in school age children should be raised above 90% by the year 2010. In order to promote the proper use of fluoride dentifrice in Japan, a questionnaire survey on the toothbrushing habits and the use of fluoride dentifrice was conducted in kindergarten children and their guardians, primary school children and their guardians, and junior high school students. The rate of fluoride dentifrice use was 63.6% for primary school children and 55.2% for junior high school students, both of them much lower than the target figure (more than 90%) of Kenkou Nippon 21. There was also a small percentage of fluoride dentifrice users who selected it for its fluoride property. On the other hand, there was comparatively large percentage of fluoride dentifrice users who rinsed their mouths more than four times after brushing. We concluded that the health education on the proper use of fluoride dentifrice to improve its effectiveness is necessary.
