Declared Fluoride Concentration in Commercial Mouthwashes: A Market Analysis from North Macedonia

The aim of this study was to determine the declared fluoride concentration inmouthwashes available on the market in the Republic of North Macedonia. Materialand methods: To identify all available mouthwashes in the Republic of NorthMacedonia, a market analysis was conducted in the period between January 1, 2024 and July 1, 2024, including traditional markets and the online market. Two researchers recorded the ingredients declared by the manufacturer, while other two researchers verified the recorded ingredients. Results: There are 76 mouthwashes available on themarket in the Republic of North Macedonia, out of which, 44 (57.9%) contained fluoridein the form of sodium fluoride or olaflur, or both. Of the 44 fluoride-containingmouthwashes, 9 (20.45%) did not declare the amount of fluoride. Most of the fluoride containing mouthwashes used sodium fluoride alone or in combination with olaflur(n=42, 95.45%). The fluoride content in mouthwashes ranges from 98 ppm F to 475 ppm F, with the most common being 225 ppm F (n=9, 25.72%) and 250 ppm F (n=8, 22.85%). A total of 17 mouthwashes (51.42%) contain fluoride at a concentration of at least 230 ppm F. Conclusions: More than a half of the available mouthwashes contained fluoride in the form of sodium fluoride, olaflur or both. Among these, some of them did not declare the fluoride concentration despite stating the presence of sodium fluoride in their composition. Increased oversight by regulatory bodies is necessary to ensure the safety and proper labeling of these products.