The aim of the study was to assess the association between past fluoride exposures from ingested toothpaste and current fluorosis manifestations in 10- 11 year old index subjects. Fluorosis was assessed with the Dean’s Index in 1343 10-11 year old index subjects. Two hundred index subjects who had younger 4-5 year old siblings were sub sampled and fluoride exposures from ingested toothpaste in their younger siblings (proxy subjects) were determined. The values for the fluoride ingested per brushing of the proxy subjects were utilised together with past frequency of toothbrushing of index subjects to extrapolate on the past exposure of index subjects. The mean extrapolated past fluoride exposure from ingestion of toothpaste was highly variable; 671.7 ug ± 739.3 ug (sem= 56.9). It was higher in the subjects with fluorosis (697.3 ug) than in those without fluorosis (646.89 ug) but differences were not of statistical significance. This approach of extrapolation has not been reported elsewhere and need to be validated. The implications of the present methodology to estimate past fluoride exposure is discussed.
The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics and pattern of the betel/tobacco quid chewing habit in the estate Indian community. The study was conducted in 6 randomly selected estates. It involved oral mucosal examination and an interview to solicit personal data as well as history and details of oral habits. Of a total of 618 subjects studied, 19.3 % (n= 119; 89 females and 30 males) were betel !tobacco quid chewers. The youngest age of onset of betel quid chewing is 10 years. The mean frequency of chewing quid is 4.3 times/day and the mean duration of chewing is 8.1 minutes. Initiation to the habit occur at a young age and a major role is played by family and friends in initiation to the habit. Practises of adding tobacco and lime appear to have adverse effects and are associated with higher occurrences of precancer lesions in this study (p