Fluoride is incredibly important for teeth. This mineral occurs naturally in our teeth, but prolonged exposure to bacteria and acid attacks strips fluoride from the protective enamel. When you use fluoride dental products and drink fluoridated tap water, you restore the mineral composition of your teeth so they stay strong and healthy.
Dental fluoride is considered essential for cavity prevention. Without it, your risk of tooth decay skyrockets. Furthermore, fluoride for teeth is perfectly safe at normal levels, making fluoride toothpaste and fluoride dental treatments an easy way to safeguard your oral health.
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a natural mineral found throughout nature. It naturally occurs in certain types of food (like seafood, tea, coffee, and some fruits and vegetables) and all water sources, although at varying levels.
When researchers discovered fluoride’s effectiveness at preventing cavities, fluoride products and treatments became standard in dentistry.
What does fluoride do?
Your teeth are in a constant flux of demineralization and remineralization. Demineralization is when your tooth enamel loses minerals because of bacterial attacks. On the other hand, remineralization is when you consume minerals like fluoride, calcium, and phosphate, and these minerals re-strengthen the enamel.
Dental fluoride contributes to remineralization. It makes your teeth stronger, so they’re more resistant to bacteria and acid. Furthermore, fluoride combats the oral bacteria that can lead to tooth decay.
The end result is that your risk of cavities goes down by approximately 25% simply by drinking fluoridated water. Fluoride can even stop early tooth decay by putting minerals back into the tooth.
4 Fluoride Benefits
- Remineralization: Our teeth contain a range of minerals, including fluoride. However, the acidity produced by oral bacteria eats away at the tooth enamel, causing demineralization. Dental fluoride restores fluoride levels in your teeth so they’re protected against future bacterial attacks. This process is called remineralization.
- Combats bacteria: Our mouths are full of oral bacteria. Proper oral hygiene and natural processes like saliva production keep bacteria levels at a healthy level. Bacterial overgrowth, when it occurs, can lead to tooth decay and poor oral health. Fluoride inhibits the proliferation of bacteria in your mouth by interrupting the bacteria’s metabolic activities, so they produce less acid.
- Strengthens teeth: Dental fluoride can lead to harder, denser tooth enamel. Demineralization slows down, and your teeth are stronger as a result. You become less susceptible to tooth decay.
- Stops early tooth decay: Minor tooth decay can be halted with dental fluoride. The fluoride remineralizes the tooth, stopping the cavity’s progression.
How does fluoride prevent tooth decay?
First, let’s take a closer look at how tooth decay forms. As you know, your mouth contains naturally occurring oral bacteria. This bacteria mixes with leftover food particles, carbs, and sugars that your saliva hasn’t washed away. These combine to form a sticky biofilm that builds up on the surface of your teeth.
The bacteria in the plaque feeds on the available sugar, producing acid. Acid then removes minerals from the tooth’s outer surface, called the enamel. Eventually, sufficient exposure to acid causes a tiny hole to form in the tooth. A cavity is that tiny hole.
Demineralized teeth are vulnerable to tooth decay. The protective enamel is weakened, making the tooth especially prone to aggressive acid attacks. Fluoride remineralizes your teeth, so they are more resistant to these acid attacks.
How to Prevent Cavities With Fluoride
Fluoride is very important for preventing cavities in both children and adults. Remineralization strengthens your tooth enamel and repairs the damage from an overly acidic oral environment.
Although fluoride naturally occurs in all water sources and some food, it’s still important to make sure you’re getting enough. Fluoridated water plays a crucial role in ensuring that everyone is getting enough fluoride in their diet. We also
At Bristol Dental Clinic, we recommend brushing regularly with a fluoride toothpaste to help combat oral bacteria and keep your teeth strong. We also offer fluoride treatments during dental exams and cleanings.
Does everyone benefit from fluoride?
At the right levels, fluoride has been found to be very beneficial for adults and children. It is hazardous at high doses, but it’s very difficult to reach dangerous fluoride levels. Over-the-counter products and tap water contain low levels of fluoride, so we can enjoy the benefits without the risks.
If you’re consuming too much fluoride, you can develop fluorosis, which is a discoloration of the teeth. The teeth typically have spots ranging from light white to dark brown. It’s more common during tooth development in children.
Fluorosis cannot be reversed, but it can be treated. Cosmetic dental procedures, like teeth whitening, can correct discolouration caused by high fluoride consumption.
Fluoride Intake and Children
Fluoride is beneficial for developing baby and adult teeth in children. It helps to harden the tooth enamel, even on unemerged adult teeth. This sets your child up for strong oral health later in life.
Once children’s primary teeth do break through their gums, dental fluoride continues to keep their teeth strong and healthy. They’re less likely to develop cavities and tooth decay. For this reason, it’s very important for children to drink fluoridated tap water and use fluoride toothpaste, especially those over the age of 6.
Nonetheless, parents must monitor their child’s consumption of fluoride to prevent fluorosis. Only use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste on your child’s toothbrush. Avoid flavoured toothpaste since children are more likely to swallow it.
You may want to wait to introduce fluoride toothpaste until after your child stops swallowing their toothpaste, usually after the age of 6. Until then, rely on fluoridated tap water and fluoride treatments from your child’s dentist.
Dental Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride treatments are part of every dental exam and cleaning. It takes only a few minutes for your hygienist or dentist to apply your fluoride treatment. There are several ways to administer fluoride, such as a gel, varnish, foam, or rinse.
Protect Your Teeth With Fluoride Treatments From Bristol Dental Clinic
Bristol Dental Clinic provides professional preventative dentistry services in Mississauga. Our talented team of dental professionals are committed to keeping your teeth healthy and strong for life.
During your regular appointments at our clinic, we examine your teeth for cavities and perform a thorough cleaning to remove plaque and tartar build-ups. We also administer a fluoride treatment to reduce cavity risks, remineralize enamel, prevent cavity-causing bacteria from growing, and strengthen teeth.
To book an appointment with a dentist in Mississauga, call Bristol Dental Clinic at 866-673-2109 or contact us here.
