Fluoride and Your Dental Health

Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to demineralization, a process that occurs when acids, produced by decay-causing bacteria or found naturally in certain food, attack the enamel of a tooth and cause the enamel to dissolve.  Fluoride also helps to speed remineralization, adding strengthening minerals to the enamel layer of an erupted tooth in both adults and children.

Where is fluoride found?
The primary source of fluoride is drinking water.  Tap water in most U.S. cities contains fluoride, however, some rural towns have yet to incorporate fluoridation into the drinking water.  Your dentist can help you figure out if your town has fluoridated water.  Some, but not all bottled waters contain fluoride.  Fluoride can also be directly applied to teeth through toothpastes and fluoride containing mouth rinses.  Dentists and dental hygienists can apply fluoride directly to your teeth in the form of a gel, foam or varnish.  These products contain much higher levels of fluoride than toothpastes and mouth rinses.

When should fluoride use begin? 
Developing teeth can benefit from a little fluoride.  Most municipal water supplies are fortified with adequate fluoride. (Call your local water authority to find out about yours.) If yours isn't, or if you get your water from a well, consider buying a test kit from your local health department, a hardware store, or a pharmacy. If the results show a fluoride content of less than .3 parts per million, ask your dentist whether you should give your child a supplement. (The recommended dosage per day is .25 milligrams for children under 3, .5 mg for kids 3 to 6, and 1 mg for kids over 6). You can get a prescription for a fluoride supplement in the form of drops or chewable tablets.

Keep in mind that while little fluoride is a good thing for your child's teeth, swallowing too much of it over time can lead to a condition called fluorosis, which can cause white spots to show up on your child's adult teeth.  This is why it's important not to use too much toothpaste, especially before your child learns to rinse and spit it out.

When is additional fluoride necessary?
 Additional fluoride treatment can benefit children and adults with certain oral conditions, including dry mouth, tooth decay, and gum disease.  To find out if you and your children are receiving enough fluoride or should consider fluoride treatment or supplements ask your dentist.