[Oral hygiene in Italy].

Abstract

In Italy (58 million inhabitants) over the last 15 years a decrease in caries incidence could be observed: Children (6-10 years old) 1970: 84.5%, DMF-T 4.77; 1980-85: 72%, DMF-T 3.64). Per capita sugar consumption went down from 32.0 kg in 1974 to 28.2 kg in 1983. 30.770 dentists are in practice--incl. medical doctors, who are allowed to practise dentistry--, 8600 of them are members of the Italian Dental Association AMDI. AMDI together with Mentadent Gibbs organised the "Month of Mouth Prevention" in 1988, 4,400 dentists with 305,552 patients joined the programme. Thanks to this programme many data about oral hygiene in Italy have emerged: frequency of brushing, kind and choice of toothbrush, use of toothbrushes (38.5 mio sold in 1988) etc. In Italy water fluoridation ist not practised, in some areas NaF pills have been used.