abstract–The affinity of fluoride for hydroxylapatite powder with or without coatings of salivary proteins or salivary proteins and dextrans was investigated. Solution of sodium fluoride was added to uncoated and coated samples of hydroxylapatite. Fluoride ion concentration of supernatants above the coated and uncoated samples was measured and used to evaluate the effect of the coatings. The coatings seemed to affect the fluoride‐hydroxylapatite interaction only to a very small deg