Supervised weekly rinsing with a 0.2% neutral NaF solution: results from a demonstration program after three school years.

A school-based fluoride rinsing program was instituted in 1975 in the Three Village Central School District, Long Island, NY. The children rinsed once a week with a 0.2% neutral NaF solution under supervision of the homeroom teachers. After three years, the participants had rinsed an average of 77 times. Children in grades 3 through 7 who had participated during all three years of rinsing had a reduction in caries prevalence of 30.9% for DMFS and 28.5% for DMFT. The greatest reduction occurred on proximal surfaces (48.7%), followed by buccolingual surfaces (30.0%) and occlusal surfaces (28.2%). The benefits of fluoride rinsing increased with the duration of the program.