Oral hygiene habits and oral health in cystic fibrosis.

AIM: The present study was designed to investigate oral hygiene habits and fluoride use in cystic fibrosis (CF) homozygotes, heterozygotes and healthy controls as a function of caries experience (DMF-T) and oral cleanliness (dental plaque, dental calculus and gingival bleeding). METHODS: Oral hygiene habits in CF homozygotes (n=42), heterozygotes (n=48) and healthy controls (n=62) were used in a multivariate analysis with caries experience (DMF-T) and oral cleanliness (dental plaque, calculus and gingival bleeding) as response variables. RESULTS: CF homozygotes had a significantly lower caries experience (p< or =0.001) and less gingival bleeding sites (p< or =0.02). Oral hygiene habits were not significantly different between the three groups, except for intake of fluoride supplements. Significantly more CF homozygotes had received fluoride supplements. Oral hygiene habits did affect caries experience or oral hygiene differently in each study group. CONCLUSION: No matter what oral hygiene habits were, CF homozygotes had an overall better oral health status. Apparently they seemed to possess intrinsic salivary compensatory mechanisms, as the significant higher use of fluoride supplements appeared not to be responsible for the better oral health.