The Effect of Topical Applications of Sodium Fluoride on the Oral Flora of Young Adults

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Abstract
An exptl. group of 97 and a control group of 46 patients had 3 tests performed on their saliva samples: Each sample was incubated with a sucrose-indicator soln., and the pH of each of the resulting mixtures was detd. every hr. for 7 hrs.; the total titratable acid produced in the above mixture was found for each sample; the Lactobacillus acidophilus indices were detd. The exptl. group then had 4 weekly applns. of an aqueous 2% soln. of NaF to all their teeth while the control group had 4 weekly applns. of water. One week after the final applns., the original tests were repeated for both groups. On inspection of the data it appeared that, on the avg., the exptl. group''s saliva might have produced less acid than did the control group''s after the applns. However, on statistical evaluation, this apparent difference was found not to be significant. Similarly, the difference between the mean decreases in the L. acidophilus indices in both groups after the applns., were found to be statistically insignificant.