The benefits of fluoride, a mineral naturally released from rocks into our soil, water and air, hold a bit of mystery and can be confusing to understand and accept. The dental experts at myKIDSdds share a few facts that may help detangle the possible confusion you might have about fluoride!
The Basic Benefits of Fluoride Treatments
After many research studies about fluoride were conducted, it was learned that fluoride has a positive effect on teeth. This mineral creates stronger enamel with more resistance to the sugar and acid in our diets that can break down tooth surfaces into cavities. Since cavities are reported to be the most prevalent disease in young children, that got our attention.
The important thing to remember about fluoride treatments is dosage. Anything in excess is not healthy for us … too much food, too much exercise, too much shopping, too much isolation, etc. Too much fluoride is also not healthy and can give teeth a discolored appearance, even though they still have increased strength. That is why we pay attention to the fluoride levels that are in our water, the amount in dental products, and the frequency of fluoride treatments at the dentist.
How does fluoride get inside our teeth?
There are two ways that teeth receive the benefits of fluoride: systemic, meaning from the inside out, and topical, meaning from the outside.
Systemic
The systemic route takes place from birth through 12 years of age as the primary and adult teeth complete most of their growth and development. There are very small amounts of natural fluoride in foods such as potatoes, spinach or raisins, but our best source is water. The water your child drinks should have a balanced amount of fluoride that feeds the teeth internally to make a strong tooth structure forming a rock solid start. The dosage of fluoride in the water is what is important and is regulated by the city. We stay aware of Dallas and its surrounding suburbs, so we feel confident in proper amounts within their water. You might check with your city if you are unsure of their levels, and then consult with your pediatric dentist to verify what is appropriate for your child. If you choose bottled water or a water delivery service, you should check with that company as typically they do not add or have enough natural fluoride. A removable filter from a refrigerator, faucet or pitcher removes impurities but not fluoride so those are great.The system which does remove fluoride is an installed reverse osmosis system in your water line at home. In that situation, you might have a discussion with your pediatric dentist to add a fluoride supplement to your child’s daily vitamin.
Topical
The second way that teeth are protected is by using fluoride toothpaste and/or mouthwash and through scheduled fluoride treatments at the dentist. There are many great tasting children’s toothpastes on the market that contain fluoride. It gives basic protection as your child goes about their day exposing their teeth to sugar, carbs, acidic juices and drinks other than milk and water. Before a child can swish and spit properly to remove the excess toothpaste, the amount should be no more than the size of a rice grain. They can swallow that small amount without any risk of ingesting too much fluoride. Usually at age four, they can use up to a pea size amount (which frankly is all an adult needs) since they can now swish and spit thoroughly. Do a spit test with your child to be sure … they will have fun with that and possibly need a little mirror cleanup afterward!
We want to take advantage of this window of time in tooth development for your child to have the greatest benefit of low cavities/strong teeth. Fluoride in drinking water is building a strong foundation to have fewer dental problems during their lifetime. Then “bathing” the teeth daily with fluoride toothpaste and regular professional fluoride treatments will add protective armor when under sugar/acid attacks!
At myKIDSdds, we want to help you sift through the information that is out there so that you can make the very best educated decision for your child’s health. We welcome all questions and look forward to helping you in person or by giving us a call.
Healthy Smile, Healthy Child
Of course, a beautiful smile begins with a healthy smile. Our team will help your child achieve good oral hygiene through regular cleanings and one on one education. Your little one will receive an oral hygiene score and coaching each time they visit us for a cleaning, cultivating a sense of responsibility and accomplishment while also building their confidence each time they improve their score. Don’t forget, a clean mouth promotes total body health and wellness too! This is why our doctors will screen for airway issues, talk about nutrition, eating habits, and much more. We want our patients to be empowered in the knowledge we provide to them on the health of their facial complex and how it relates to their overall systemic health. We are excited to partner with you throughout your child’s pediatric dental journey into orthodontics, and beyond!
