Research has shown that fluoride not only lessen cavities in children and adults, but it also helps repair the early stages of tooth decay, even before the decay is visible. Its a perfect solution for your oral hygiene. If you regularly use it, you may be able to avoid oral infection. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named community water fluoridation one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.
It is a naturally occurring mineral compound found in water and soil. It is also present in foods and beverages at varying concentrations. Also, It helps prevent tooth decay by making the entire tooth surface more resistant to acid attacks from the bacteria that live in the plaque on your teeth. It also promotes re-mineralization (adding minerals such as calcium back in to your teeth). This aids in repairing early decay before a cavity (hole) forms in the tooth.
There are two ways to increase fluoride protection: topical and systemic applications. Topical fluoride is applied directly to and absorbed by the surface of the teeth. You can find it in personal oral hygiene products such as toothpastes and mouth rinses. They contain a safe and its effective concentration to fight tooth decay. These products rinse from the mouth without swallowing.
Its administration
At Spring Creek Dental, our professionals give fluoride varnishes to both children and adults at periodic intervals. Patients should avoid eating or drinking hot food or beverages for 30 minutes following the application of its varnish. For our patients with a high risk of cavities, we may give a fluoride gel or prescription strength toothpaste for daily home use. You can add systemic fluoride into the body by taking fluoridated water, its supplements or foods and beverages. Once systemic it flows via the gastrointestinal tract, the blood distributes it throughout the entire body. It then deposits into un-erupted, developing teeth. Systemic fluoride is also found in saliva and it continually bathes the teeth, providing a topical application to protect teeth.
It can happen in drinking water naturally as a result of the geological composition of soils and bedrock. Fluoridation of community water supplies is simply the exact adjustment of the existing naturally occurring fluoride levels in drinking water to the right fluoride level recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service (0.7 – 1.2 parts per million) for the prevention of dental decay.
Its concentration
If most of your water comes in the form of bottled water, you are missing out on the valuable fluoride found in tap water. It helps to protect teeth from cavities. In most cases, its concentrations in bottled water (even in some that are fluoridated) fall below the range U.S. government recommends. Its is 0.7-1.2 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride, the ideal range to prevent cavities. If you drink mostly bottled water, you should talk to your dentist. Get to know about its supplements (tablets or drops), mouth rinses and topical gels. Fluoride supplements can be prescribed for children ages 6 months to 16 years. They are usually at high risk for tooth decay and whose primary drinking water has a low fluoride concentration.
