Category:

• Miscellaneous

Description:

• Anti-dental caries agent

Indications:

• Prevention of dental caries

Contraindications:

• Hypersensitivity

Precautions:

• Pregnancy and lactation: Administration from 3^rd-9^th month of gestation safe (no information on teratogenicity); small amounts excreted into breast milk, inadequate therapeutically due to small amount of excretion and complexation with calcium

• Drinking water >0.7 ppm fluoride

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

• EENT: watery eyes

• GI: black tarry stools, constipation, diarrhea, discoloration of teeth, hematemesis, increased salivation, loss of appetite, nausea, stomatitis, weight loss

• METAB: hypocalcemia

• MS: articular and juxta-articular pain, osteomalacia, stress fractures, tetany

• RESP: decreased respiration, respiratory arrest

Dosage:

Administered orally (drops, lozenges, tablets, rinse, gel)

NOTE: 2.2mg sodium fluoride equivalent to 1mg fluoride ion

• Adult and child >12 years: 

  • Dental rinse: TOP apply 10ml 0.2% solution every day after brushing teeth, rinse mouth for >1 minute with solution then expectorate

• Child:   

  • Brush-on-gel: After brushing with toothpaste, >6 years apply thin ribbon of gel to teeth with toothbrush for at least 1 minute at bedtime, expectorate gel and rinse mouth thoroughly

  • Dental rinse: TOP 5ml 0.2% solution daily after brushing teeth, rinse mouth for >1 minute with solution then expectorate

  • Gel drops: >6 years: use applicators supplied by dentist; apply 4-8 drops to inner surface of applicator, spread evenly with tip of bottle; place applicator over upper and lower teeth and bite down gently for 6 minutes; remove and rinse mouth

• Systemic protection from periodontal disease: PO in areas where fluoride content of drinking water < 0.3 ppm, <2years 0.25mg fluoride daily, 2-3 years 0.5mg daily, 3-12 years 1mg daily; in areas where fluoride content of drinking water is 0.3-0.7 ppm, <2 years 0.125mg fluoride daily, 2-3 years 0.25mg daily, 3-14 years 0.25-0.75mg daily