Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38773884›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of dental hygiene2025

Should we be concerned about the use of non-fluoride toothpaste? A survey study in two European countries.

Ilze Maldupa, Julija Narbutaite, Egle Stanceviciene, Ilona Viduskalne, Julija Kalnina, Liga Kronina, Anda Brinkmane, Egita Senakola, Sergio E Uribe

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of dental hygiene, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ilze MaldupaDepartment of Conservative Dentistry and Oral Health, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia.
Julija NarbutaiteLithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Egle StancevicieneLithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Ilona ViduskalneDepartment of Conservative Dentistry and Oral Health, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia.
Julija KalninaDepartment of Conservative Dentistry and Oral Health, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia.
Liga KroninaDepartment of Conservative Dentistry and Oral Health, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia.
Anda BrinkmaneDepartment of Conservative Dentistry and Oral Health, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia.
Egita SenakolaDepartment of Conservative Dentistry and Oral Health, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia.
Sergio E UribeDepartment of Conservative Dentistry and Oral Health, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0684-2025

Funding

European Regional Development FundHorizon 2020 Framework Programme 857287Latvian Council of Science lzp-2022/1-0047Postdoc Latvia 1.1.1.2/VIAA/3/19/543
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundToothpastes available in Europe contain a range of fluoride concentrations, with some meeting the recommended level for caries prevention (>1000 ppm fluoride (ppm)) and others containing low or no fluoride. This study evaluated toothpaste fluoride concentrations in Latvia and Lithuania to inform targeted public health strategies in regions with a high prevalence of dental caries.

methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2019 to May 2020, using a validated questionnaire in Latvia and Lithuania. Nationally representative samples (1309 families and 5436 members) provided data through a mixed-mode survey (paper and online) on sociodemographic information, toothpaste type, brand, and type. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests (p < 0.05) were used for analysis.

resultsFifteen percent of families used non-fluoridated toothpaste and 12% used <1000 part per million (ppm) fluoride. In Latvia, 56.8% of preschoolers and 28.7% of schoolchildren used <1000 ppm or non-fluoride toothpaste, whereas in Lithuania, 47.2% of preschoolers and 29.1% of schoolchildren used <1000 ppm or non-fluoride toothpaste; 63% of adolescents and 73% of adults used toothpaste with optimal fluoride content (≥1000 ppm). Of the 228 registered toothpaste types, 62% contained more than 1000 ppm, which is optimal for caries prevention; 29% of Latvian and 24% of Lithuanian families used at least one non-fluoridated toothpaste.

conclusionThis study revealed significant gaps in the use of fluoride toothpaste among families in Latvia and Lithuania, especially among children. To effectively prevent dental caries, targeted interventions, and education must promote optimal fluoride toothpaste use, particularly among vulnerable populations.

Indexed as

Dental CariesFluoridesToothpastesAdolescentAdultCariostatic AgentsChildChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLatviaLithuaniaMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesCariostatic AgentsFluoridesToothpastesdental cariesdental public healthfluoridefluoride toothpastenon‐invasive caries treatment

Identifiers

PMID38773884
PMCPMC11717966

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.