Comparative uptake of fluoride from sodium fluoride, ammonium fluoride, and barium fluoride in rat teeth when predominantly administered in the pre-eruptive stage of development.

A comparative study was undertaken which focused on the systemic uptake of sodium fluoride (NaF), ammonium fluoride (NH4F), and barium fluoride (BaF2) in rat pups. Two critical achievements made this comparative study possible: (a) the demonstration of significant increases in fluoride (F) uptake-deposition in the treatment group pups relative to control group rats as a result of stomach tube feeding; and (b) the demonstration of clear-cut differences in F concentration levels between the treatment groups as a result of this stomach tube-systemic uptake. Data were reliable and significant enough to suggest that, of the 3 compounds in question, NH4F is absorbed most successfully in a systemic fashion, whereas BaF2 is the least absorbed.