There is a concern about the increasing prevalence of dental fluorosis, which depends on the dose of fluoride (F) to which children are subjected during tooth formation. Environmental temperature affects water intake and therefore it would be important to assess whether children living in the semiarid region are exposed to an excessive dose of F. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the total dose of F to which children are exposed during the critical age for dental fluorosis, with diet (water and food) and toothpaste as F sources, in the semiarid region of Brazil.
Methodology: 26 children aged 25.2 ± 9.1 months, residents in Feira de Santana, State of Bahia (with F in the public water supply) were selected. Duplicate-diet, water, products from toothbrushing and toothpaste samples were collected. F concentration was determined using an ion-specific electrode, after proper sample preparation.
Results: the mean and standard deviation of dose (mg F/kg/day) from diet, toothpaste and total were respectively: 0.016 ± 0.010; 0.030 ± 0.039 and 0.047 ± 0.043.
Conclusions: the children evaluated living in the semiarid region are not exposed to a risk dose for dental fluorosis.