Dental caries is a multi factorial bacterial chronic infection that affects millions of
people in the world and has become a public health problem. Also referred to as tooth decay
this disease is one of the most common disorders throughout the world second only to the
common cold. Dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease in the United States
and is 5 to 7 times more common than asthma. According to the World Oral Health Report in 2003
dental caries affect 60-80% of school children and a vast majority of adults. If left untreated
dental caries can result in cavities forming and eventually tooth loss. Although the
prevalence and severity of dental caries has decreased over the years this disease can be
controlled better with proper fluoride exposure. Fluoride dentifrices have been shown in
numerous clinical trials to be effective anticaries agents and have been recognized as a major
cause of the remarkable decline in caries prevalence in many developed countries. Dentifrices
have been widely adopted around the world as the principle means of delivering topical fluoride
and obtaining caries preventive benefits. Although there is documented literature on the use of
topical fluorides the issue needs to be further researched based on the recent documeanted
literature and guidelines regarding use of topical fluorides. Hence the present review was
conducted with the aim to review the available literature on the use and effectiveness of
different topical fluorides used in dentistry.
