Advances in Dental Research, Vol 9, 112-115, Copyright © 1995 by International & American Associations for Dental Research
Feasibility of milk fluoridation and trends in dental caries of children in China
J. Y. Bian, R. Y. Li and W. J. Wang
Department of Preventive Dentistry, Beijing Medical University, School of Stomatology, People's Republic of China.
The aim of the study is to investigate the feasibility of milk fluoridation
as a vehicle for caries prevention, based on the current epidemiological
status and its trends of dental caries in preschool children in the area of
the Haidian District of Beijing, where the indications exist: Fluoride
level in drinking water is low (0.2-0.3 ppm), and water fluoridation and
other systemic uses of fluorides are unlikely. From 75.9 to 79.7% of
3-6-year-old children were identified as having high caries experience
(dmft 4.29-4.35). It was found that 60% of the preschool children who
attended kindergarten were 3-6 years old, and 40% of the 1-2-year-olds were
living with their families. There is a local dairy to produce milk for the
population living in this district. The amount of fresh milk produced daily
is about 50,000-60,000 kg. A special kind of milk with vitamins A and D is
also available for the preschool children. Data available from the
Community MCH Centre indicated that the percentage of breast-feeding is 12%
only. The first choice by parents for artificial feeding to the babies is
fresh or powdered milk. Therefore, the breast-feeding project started in
1992. It is recommended that mothers' milk should be provided to the babies
for at least four months after birth, when a specially prescribed milk for
the babies, produced by the dairy, will be provided on a daily basis. The
cost of milk is cheaper than others. In this connection, a five-year
project on milk fluoridation as a pilot study at the community level for
caries prevention of preschool children is now planned. The project is
supported by BDMF, WHO, and Chinese MOPH.
