Columbia

   Since 1996 all salt destined for human consumption in Columbia is fluoridated to a level of 200 ppm.

Background Papers

Marthaler TM - “Salt fluoridation in Europe, comparisons with Latin America” 8th World Salt Symposium (2000); Volume 2: 1021-1026 (2000)

Milner T, Estupinan-Day, D - "Overview of Salt Fluoridation in the Region of the Americas, Part II: The Status of salt production, quality and marketing and the state of technology development for Salt Fluoridation" Salt 2000. 8th World Salt Symposium, Volume 2, pg.1033-38 (2000) LINK

Martignon S , Valbuena Luisa F - "Prevalence of developmental enamel defects in first permanent molars and incisors in children aged 5-9 years attending public and private schools" ABSTRACTS from 2nd EADPH Congress, September 25-26, 1998, Santander, Spain, Originally Published in Community Dental Health Volume 15 Number 3 (1998)

“Defects in the development of enamel (DDE) predispose the patient to caries, tooth sensitivity, malocclusion, and poor appearance. In recent years, an increase in DDE has been observed at the private odontopaediatric level in the permanent teeth of schoolchildren of high economic status. There is no current information available on this  phenomenon in the population of Colombia. The study was carried out to assess the prevalence of DDE in first permanent molars and incisors.

660 schoolchildren aged 5–9 years in public and private schools in the area of influence of the Universidad El Bosque, Santa Fe, Bogot, were examined. Defects were recorded with the modified DDE index. The prevalence of DDE was 74.5%; 55.5% in children attending private schools and 44.5% in children attending public schools. Diffuse hypermineralization was observed most (61.1%) which is related in the literature to the chronic ingestion of fluoride. The prevalence of  white/cream localised hypomineralization was 33.2%. Hypoplasia was seen in only 0.7%. These data show high prevalence of DDE and confirm the initial clinical observation (greater prevalence of DDE in private schools). They further call for a specific determination of fluorosis in the population studied.”