Cureus. 2026 Jun 11;18(6):e110636. doi: 10.7759/cureus.110636. eCollection 2026 Jun.
ABSTRACT
Background Fluoride plays a critical role in public dental health, and its judicious use is central to caries prevention strategies worldwide. With the exponential growth of internet usage in the Arab world, dental websites in the Arabic language have become increasingly influential sources of health information. However, the accuracy, completeness, and scientific reliability of fluoride-related content on these platforms remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to assess and evaluate the quality and accuracy of fluoride information disseminated through Arabic-language websites. Methods A cross-sectional web-based study was conducted between January and April 2025. Arabic websites were systematically identified using Google, Bing, and Yahoo search engines with standardized Arabic search terms related to fluoride and dental health. Websites were evaluated using the DISCERN instrument, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, the Health on the Net (HON) code principles, and a custom fluoride-specific accuracy checklist developed from current evidence-based guidelines. A total of 120 websites met the inclusion criteria. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression were employed for data analysis. Results Of 120 eligible websites, 38 (31.7%) were classified as commercial, 29 (24.2%) as health information portals, 27 (22.5%) as governmental or academic, and 26 (21.7%) as social media-based or blog platforms. Overall website quality was rated poor to fair in 68.3% of assessed websites (n = 82). The mean DISCERN score was 38.4 out of 80 (SD = 11.2). Fluoride-specific accuracy scores revealed that only 44.2% of websites correctly described optimal fluoride concentration for drinking water, 52.5% accurately discussed fluoride toothpaste recommendations, and a mere 31.7% provided correct information regarding dental fluorosis. Governmental and academic websites demonstrated significantly higher quality scores compared to commercial and social media platforms (p < 0.001). Conclusion The majority of Arabic websites provide inadequate, inaccurate, or misleading fluoride-related health information. Significant quality disparities exist across different website categories, with governmental and academic websites outperforming commercial and social media platforms. There is an urgent need for standardized guidelines, regulatory oversight, and professional dental society engagement to improve the quality of fluoride information on Arabic dental websites.
PMID:42437215 | PMC:PMC13354934 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.110636
