In the Know for You to Know
Fluoride is a little mineral with big tooth benefits. It works to strengthen tooth enamel, fight tooth decay (aka cavities) and keep smiles shining bright.
Think of fluoride as your super shield helping defend and protect your child’s tooth enamel from breaking down.
With all its benefits fluoride still sparks differences of opinion. Even now-a-days old wives tales still persist.
Today we’re taking an up front look at those tales and seeing how they stack up to the truths about fluoride.
Tale: Fluoride isn’t natural and isn’t safe for children.
Truth: Fluoride is a mineral which occurs naturally in water and in many foods. Like other nutrients fluoride is safe in the appropriate amount.
The amount of fluoride in water, toothpaste and professional fluoride treatments are well below toxic levels, and are carefully regulated to insure safety.
Tale: Well water has no fluoride
Truth: Some wells have too little fluoride while others have too much. Bottled, filtered, spring, and well waters all vary in their fluoride amount. It’s important to have the water from your well tested for fluoride every year.
If you’re not sure if you have well water or town/city water, check with the local water company. If you know your town or city supplies your drinking water you can also check the fluoride level by calling them.
Tale: Fluoride shouldn’t be used because it causes fluorosis.
Truth: Fluorosis is chalky white spots on teeth. This is typically mild and occurs when young children consume too much fluoride when their teeth are developing.
This is preventable. It’s important to use the correct amount of fluoride toothpaste and to always supervise your child’s toothbrushing so they don’t swallow the good tasting toothpaste.
Tale: Children’s teeth are fine, they don’t need fluoride.
Truth: Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay and makes your
child's teeth stronger. We all have bacteria in our mouth that combines with sugars from food and drinks to make acid. The acid harms the outer layer of the tooth (aka enamel). Fluoride protects teeth from being damaged by the acid and helps rebuild tooth enamel.
Tale: Children don’t need fluoride once their adult teeth come in.
Truth: It’s not just baby teeth, all teeth benefit from fluoride. Like children, parent's teeth also benefit from fluoride’s ability to protect tooth enamel and repair early stages of tooth decay.
What To Remember
As pediatric dentist’s we want to help you with your goal of preventing cavities and promoting good dental health for your child.
Fluoride is safe, effective and easy to include in your child’s daily routine. With little or no fluoride, the teeth aren’t able to resist cavities. By adding fluoride to water, the cavity rate has decreased by 50-70%.
But the amount has to be correct. All it takes is a small amount of fluoride for the maximum benefit.
What’s your take on fluoride? Do you have too much, too little or just the right amount of fluoride in your water? Tell us, We’d really like to know! Send us a email to kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook
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