Salt fluoridation in Europe and in Latin

America – with potential worldwide

Fluoride is beneficial for the

health of teeth. Systemic flu-

oride (salt, water or milk

fluoridation) and, in particular,

the use of fluoride-containing

toothpastes, result in tempo-

rarily higher fluoride concen-

tration in the mouth for at

least 15 to 40 minutes. Fluoride

acts against the acids formed

by the oral bacteria growing

on the tooth surface. The use

of the above mentioned fluo-

ride approaches are recom-

mended by WHO. Europe and

Latin America have successful

programs of salt fluoridation.

The automatic prevention of

dental caries using fluoridat-

ed salt commenced in 1955

in Switzerland. Currently, the

number of users of such salt

is approaching 300 million,

almost 200 million in Latin

America and 70–80 million in

Europe. Further big potential

for fluoridated salt exists in

Eastern and Southeast Europe,

Latin America, China, India and

Southeast Asia.

Introduction

Fluoridated salt in Europe,

the beginning

Fluoridated salt in Latin America,

a success story

Safe product

Scientific results, epidemiological

and public health studies

Factors of note

No adverse health or social effects

Community fluoridation in combina-

tion with fluoride toothpastes

Fluoride and the EU Fortified Food

Regulation

Health claims made for fluoridated

salt

The potential of salt fluoridation on

a worldwide scale

Areas of need worldwide and

approaches for action

References