Antimicrobial activity of fluoride and its in vivo importance: identification of research questions

• Published in: Caries research Vol. 35 Suppl 1; p. 65
• Main Author: Van Loveren, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01-01-2001
• Subjects: Acids - metabolism; Amines - pharmacology; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Bacteria - drug effects; Bacteria - metabolism; Bacterial Adhesion - drug effects; Cariostatic Agents - pharmacology; Dental Caries - microbiology; Dental Caries - prevention & control; Dental Plaque - chemistry; Dental Plaque - microbiology; Dental Research; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Fluorides - pharmacology; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase - antagonists & inhibitors; Proton-Translocating ATPases - antagonists & inhibitors; Tin Fluorides - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0008-6568
• DOI: 10.1159/000049114

This manuscript discusses the antimicrobial activity of fluoride and its in vivo importance in order to identify research questions. There is a lot of information on mechanisms by which fluoride may interfere with bacterial metabolism and dental plaque acidogenicity. The antimicrobial activity of fluoride products is enhanced when fluoride is associated with antimicrobial cations like Sn(2+) and amine. It is not clear whether the antimicrobial mechanisms of fluoride are operating in vivo or even to what extent antimicrobial activity can contribute to caries prevention. This latter question may be the most important one in research.