Milk Fluoridation for the Prevention of Dental Caries: 2009 Update

Around the globe, dental caries is a public health problem and the disease burden is particularly high among under-privileged groups. In several low-income countries, the WHO anticipates that the incidence of dental caries will increase as a result of growing consumption of sugars and inadequate exposure to fluorides. The good news is that dental caries is preventable through the effective use of fluoride. WHO emphasizes the importance of automatic administration of fluoride as part of public health programs. Substantial research has provided evidence of the effectiveness of milk fluoridation in the prevention of dental caries. As milk fluoridation mostly targets the child population, such schemes have been established within the context of school health programs and programs for healthy diet and nutrition. This publication describes the justification of milk fluoridation as an effective public health measure and experiences from community health programs are highlighted.