Abstract
Purpose : This study was designed to determine whether the long term use of fluoride mouthrinse affected the salivary levels of Mutans streptococci in 9- and 11-year-old children. Material and Methods : The subjects consisted of 281 nine and eleven-year-old children. Among these subjects, 161 children had received fluoride mouthrinse. The remaining 120 children had not received fluoride mouthrinse. Clinical, saliva, and questionnaire examinations were conducted. The levels of Mutans streptococci were measured using Dentocult SM Strip®. Results : Nine-year-old children using fluoride mouthrinse had lower levels of Mutans streptococci. There was a significant association between the experience of fluoride mouthrinse and the Dentocult SM Strip® score by multiple logistic regression analysis (Odds ratio : 0.35, p = 0.02). However, there was no significant difference in 11-year-olds. Conclusion : The data presented here may suggest that long-term use of fluoride mouthrinse has an effect of reducing the salivary level of Mutans streptococci, especially during the mixed dentition period.
