Factors influencing the amount of fluoride toothpaste applied by the mothers of young children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the weight of dentifrice and consequent amount of fluoride placed on a toothbrush by the mothers of young children when instructed to apply a pea-sized quantity or smear of two dentifrices containing different fluoride concentrations from tubes with round or star-shaped nozzles. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 53 mothers participated in the study and each applied the eight possible combinations of dentifrice in a random order.
RESULTS: The mean weight of dentifrice, and therefore fluoride, applied was statistically less for the smear instruction than the pea but the difference was small. Significantly less weight of Colgate 0-6 gel was applied when compared with Colgate Great Regular Flavour (GRF) but the nozzle shape had no significant effect on the weight of dentifrice applied.
CONCLUSIONS: The difference in fluoride concentration between GRF (1450 ppm F) and Colgate 0-6 gel (400 ppm F) was the most important determinant of the amount of fluoride applied.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes