Originally published in 2019.
Republished in 2022 following global agreement validation.
The 2022 version reflects methodological standardisation within the IAPD Consensus & Foundational Articles framework and formal evaluation of international agreement. No substantive changes were made to the clinical recommendations.
Fluoride plays a critical role in the prevention and control of dental caries in children and adolescents. The regular use of fluoride has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence and progression of caries by enhancing remineralisation and inhibiting demineralisation of tooth structure.
Fluoride should be incorporated into daily oral health practices and broader public health strategies aimed at improving oral health outcomes in children.
Core principles include:
When used appropriately, fluoride is safe, effective, and one of the most important tools for preventing dental caries globally.
The regular use of fluoride toothpaste is effective in preventing dental caries in children and adolescents.
Fluoride varnish and other professionally applied topical fluoride agents may be recommended for children at increased risk of dental caries.
Community-based fluoride programmes, such as water fluoridation where available and appropriate, contribute significantly to the prevention of dental caries at a population level.
(Evidence-based recommendations are not subject to global agreement scoring.)
(Evaluated for Global Agreement in 2022)
The amount of fluoride toothpaste used should be appropriate for the child’s age and supervised by caregivers in younger children.
Fluoride use should be part of a comprehensive caries prevention strategy that includes oral hygiene, diet counselling, and regular dental visits.
Health professionals should provide clear guidance to caregivers on the safe and effective use of fluoride-containing products.
To support clinical implementation and knowledge translation, IAPD has developed complementary educational materials.
🎙 IAPD Podcast Series
Topics related to caries prevention and fluoride use are discussed within the IAPD Podcast Series.
▶ Listen to the Podcast
🎥 IAPD Webinar
Relevant webinars address evidence-based approaches to caries prevention and the role of fluoride in paediatric dentistry.
▶ Watch the Webinar Recording
International Association of Paediatric Dentistry (IAPD).
IAPD Foundational Articles and Recommendations on the Use of Fluoride for Caries Prevention.
Originally published 2019. Global Agreement Validation 2022.
