Fluoride and dental caries prevention in children.

1. Low-income children experience more dental caries and more complications of caries, such as dental abscesses. Beginning fluoride toothpaste and fluoride varnish during the first year of life can reduce low-income children’s risk of getting dental caries. 2. Pediatricians and other primary care clinicians for children have an important role to play in implementing a dental caries primary prevention program for all children, which should include regular use of fluoride as the mainstay. 3. Fluoride toothpaste and community water fluoridation benefit both children and adults, decreasing the risk of dental caries throughout the life span.