Low-Fluoride Dentifrice and Caries Lesion Control in Children with Different Caries Experience: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Since there is no consensus on the anticaries effectiveness of low-fluoride (F) dentifrice, this randomized clinical trial evaluated its effect in children at different caries activity status. One hundred and twenty 2- to 4-year-old children, half with and half without active caries lesions, were randomly divided into 2 groups which used 500- or 1,100-microg F/g (NaF) dentifrices during 1 year. Caries progression or regression were evaluated as the number of lesions becoming active/cavities or inactive, respectively. The anticaries effect of the low-F dentifrice was similar to the conventional F dentifrice when used by caries-inactive children. However, in children with active caries lesions the low-F dentifrice was less effective than the 1,100-microg F/g dentifrice in controlling the progression of lesions. The data suggest that the child caries activity may be taken into account to recommend a low-F dentifrice.