| Autor: |
Paiva SM; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - UFMG, School of Dentistry , Department of Pediatric Dentistry , Belo Horizonte , MG , Brazil ., Prado IM; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - UFMG, School of Dentistry , Department of Pediatric Dentistry , Belo Horizonte , MG , Brazil ., Perazzo MF; Universidade Federal de Goiás - UFGO, School of Dentistry , Department of Oral Health , Goiania , GO , Brazil ., Guarnizo-Herreño CC; Universidad Nacional de Colombia , School of Dentistry , Department of Public Health , Bogotá , Colombia ., Acevedo AM; Universidad Central de Venezuela , School of Dentistry , Dental Research Institute , Caracas , Venezuela ., Castillo JL; Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia , School of Dentistry , Department of Pediatric Dentistry , Lima , Peru ., Abreu-Placeres N; Universidad Iberoamericana , Biomaterials and Dentistry Research Center , Research and Innovation Department , Santo Domingo , Dominican Republic ., Giacaman RA; University of Talca , Faculty of Dentistry , Cariology Unit Talca, Chile., Ricomini-Filho AP; Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Unicamp, Piracicaba School of Dentistry , Department of Biosciences , Piracicaba , SP , Brazil ., Martignon S; Universidad El Bosque , Caries Research Unit, Research Department , Bogotá , Colombia ., Malheiros Z; Colgate Palmolive Company , Colgate Technology Center , Piscataway , NJ , USA .; Latin American Oral Health Association , LAOHA, São Paulo , SP , Brazil ., Stewart B; Colgate Palmolive Company , Colgate Technology Center , Piscataway , NJ , USA .; Latin American Oral Health Association , LAOHA, São Paulo , SP , Brazil ., Bönecker M; Latin American Oral Health Association , LAOHA, São Paulo , SP , Brazil .; Universidade de São Paulo - USP, School of Dentistry , Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics , University of São Paulo, São Paulo , SP , Brazil . |
| Abstrakt: |
Policy evaluation and guidance on fluoride use and sugar consumption in Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACC) may provide a scientific evidence basis for policymakers, dental professionals, civil society organizations and individuals committed to improving public oral health. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the extent of implementation of policies/guidelines on fluoride use, and sugar consumption in LACC. The study had two stages. First a questionnaire covering four major areas was developed: fluoridation of public water supplies; salt fluoridation; fluoride dentifrices, and sugar consumption. Then, the questionnaire was applied to collect data among representative participants in public oral health from LACC. Ninety-six participants from 18 LACC answered the questionnaire. One-hundred seventy documents were attached, and 285 links of websites were provided by the respondents. Implementation of policies and guidelines on water and table salt fluoridation and processed and ultra-processed food consumption were found in most countries, with some issues in the consensus and coverage. Thus, differences were identified in the extent of implementation of public oral health strategies on sugar consumption and fluoridation among the countries. There is no consensus on the policies in LACC to reduce sugar consumption and for the use of fluoride. A few policies and guidelines were applied in isolated countries, with a variety of strategies and standards. For future actions, it will be important to encourage the development of strategies and public policies within countries, and to evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies in reducing dental caries and in improving oral health in LACC. |
