• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.580-588
• /
• 2014

Fluoride use is the best and widespread method for dental caries prevention. The aim of this study was to investigate experience and recognition of fluoride for caries prevention focusing on majors in one university. Four hundred twenty-four university students were selected by convenience sampling with informed consent and answered the questionnaire by self recording type. The subjects except dental hygiene students knew about purpose of fluoride use (84.6%), over the count fluoride rinse (63.2%), fluoride toothpaste (61.5%), professional fluoride application (56.4%) and water fluoridation (43.6%). They experienced over the count fluoride rinse (67.5%), school fluoride rinse (45.3%), professional fluoride application (30.8%), fluoride toothpaste (28.2%) and water fluoridation (12.0%). The main information paths about fluoride were university lectures among dental hygiene students and internet and mass media, followed by nurse-teachers among non dental hygiene students. The ratios of intention to use fluoride were: 67.8% in dental hygiene, 34.9% in health, 51.4% in non-health in case of professional fluoride application for oneself, 93.1% in dental hygiene, 48.0% in health, 50.4% in non-health in case of professional fluoride application for their children, 79.0% in dental hygiene, 51.3% in health, 55.8% in non-health in case of water fluoridation. The subjects to experience and recognize fluoride for caries prevention had more positive intention to use fluoride. The answers of students majoring in health or medical care were not different from non-health, except dental hygiene. Dental professionals should try to let the public know about fluoride use for caries prevention through mass media and internet as well as individual education in dental clinics.