Association Between Caries Risk and Public Water Fluoridation in Balsas, Maranhão: A Cross-Sectional Study
Laura Valentina Borges Pes, Alanna Ramalho Mateus, Haylla de Faria Horta, Adrielle Ouchi Lopes, Brenda Renata Lopes Justo, João Victor de Araújo Narciso, Mariana Gabriel, Sérgio Alves Guida Freitas Júnior, Janaílla Ribeiro Moura, Caio Sampaio, Adolfo José da Mota, Wilson Galhego Garcia, Cristina Ant · 2026
Read Association Between Caries Risk and Public Water Fluoridation in Balsas, Maranhão: A Cross-Sectional Study by Laura Valentina Borges Pes, Alanna Ramalho Mateus, Haylla de Faria Horta, Adrielle Ouchi Lopes, Brenda Renata Lopes Justo, João Victor de Araújo Narciso, Mariana Gabriel, Sérgio Alves Guida Freitas Júnior, Janaílla Ribeiro Moura, Caio Sampaio, Adolfo José da Mota, Wilson Galhego Garcia, Cristina Ant (2026) in the Tower of Babel, a free online library of public-domain works preserved in clean, searchable text. No sign-up. The full text is served as a plain-text file at a predictable URL, where text is present: https://antarctic-labs.com/tower-of-babel/pmc-13257183.txt.
Description
Pes and colleagues measured tooth decay in two hundred fifty-six preschool children in Balsas, Maranhão, and compared it with fluoride levels in the town's water. Calibrated dentists scored caries risk at municipal schools chosen to span the water network, and fluoride was measured chemically. Hygiene markers such as biofilm and gum inflammation were recorded as well.
Sixty percent of children had caries, and over forty percent fell into severe risk categories. Every water sample held far less fluoride than recommended, and the lowest residual levels aligned with the worst decay. Poor hygiene markers also tracked with more decayed teeth. The authors urge enforced fluoridation and stronger school-based prevention.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Laura Valentina Borges Pes, Alanna Ramalho Mateus, Haylla de Faria Horta, Adrielle Ouchi Lopes, Brenda Renata Lopes Justo, João Victor de Araújo Narciso, Mariana Gabriel, Sérgio Alves Guida Freitas Júnior, Janaílla Ribeiro Moura, Caio Sampaio, Adolfo José da Mota, Wilson Galhego Garcia, Cristina Ant |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 30 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |