Mapping the evidence for monitoring fluoride exposure in community prevention programmes for oral health using nail clippings and spot urine samples: A scoping review

Daily (24h) urinary fluoride excretion has been recognised as a suitable biomarker for monitoring fluoride exposure in community prevention programmes for oral health. Due to practical difficulties in collecting 24h urine samples from children, spot urine samples and nail clippings have been suggested as simpler alternatives. However, a clearer perspective is needed to better understand the context and processes where either biomarker (i.e. spot urine and nail clippings) is used to measure fluoride intake. The aim of this scoping review is to map the current literature/evidence on the use of spot urine samples and nail clippings for monitoring fluoride exposure at a community level.