Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to clarify the spread conditions of the school-based fluoride mouthrinsing program throughout Japan. Data were collected by questionnaire surveys regarding the schools and children participating in the program, frequency of rinsing, mouthrinsing agent used, fluoride concentration of the rinsing solution and financial support for the program. Questionnaires were sent to the key persons and dentists of the non-profit Japanese Conference on the Promotion of the Use of Fluoride in Caries Prevention (NPO-JPUF) by mail or e-mail every two years. In 2004, the total numbers of schools and individuals participating in the program were 3,923 and 396,702, respectively (in schools : nursery schools and kindergartens 60.6%, primary schools 33.6%, and secondary schools 5.3%; for children : nursery schools and kindergartens 27.5%, primary schools 63.5%, and secondary schools 8.8%). In nursery schools and kindergartens, 65.8% of the participating children adopted the daily rinsing-method using mainly 0.05% NaF solution. In primary and secondary schools, respectively, 85.9% and 90.2% adopted the weekly rinsing-method using mainly 0.2% NaF solution. The programs are supported by public funds of the prefectural and municipal governments in 80.0% of nursery schools and kindergartens, 87.0% of primary schools and 92.4% of secondary schools. Although the number of schools and children involved in the program is increasing, it is still modest and shows regional differences. These results suggest that cooperation between dental organizations, dental schools and municipal corporations plays an important role in order to reduce regional differences and increase the schools and children participating in school-based fluoride mouthrinsing programs in Japan.
