Why Fluoride is Important
By Stephanie DeFilippo,
DDS
I am fresh off
the plane from the annual American Academy of Pediatrics meeting in Seattle,
Washington. The importance of fluoride
was one of the take home messages.
Fluoride has become controversial recently and some cities are taking it
out of their water supply. I am not
writing this to cause controversy, but to highlight why this mineral is so
important to the development of your children’s teeth.
The ADA calls
fluoride “nature’s cavity fighter.”
Fluoride can help support teeth in two different ways. The first way is systemic. This means that ingested fluoride can
strengthen the enamel of developing teeth before they come through the gums. The second way is topical. As teeth erupt, they are suspect to decay and
fluoride can help strengthen and “remineralize” the enamel to help reverse
tooth decay.
The following is
from ada.org: “The ADA, the American Medical Association, the World Health
Organization and many others support fluoridation of community water supplies.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has cited community
water fluoridation as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th
century. So, by simply drinking
fluoridated water, you are doing something good for your oral health.”
A downside to
fluoride is fluorosis. This is defined
as too much fluoride during the development of your children’s teeth, which
causes color, changes in permanent teeth.
This is why a trained dental professional should be consulted and a
partner in deciding how much fluoride your child should be ingesting. The fluorosis only affects the color of the
teeth and not the health of your child.
Parents should
control the amount of fluoride toothpaste used because very little is needed. With children who are not spitting yet, only
a tiny smear of the toothpaste is needed.
As they get older, a pea size is recommended. Children should be monitored when they are
brushing their teeth twice a day (morning and night). As always, brushing should go hand and hand
with flossing.
Fluoride rinses
are also helpful if the child is older than the age of six. Many parents are excited for their child to
start using mouth rinses because they think that the rinse will take the place
of brushing and flossing. Rinses are
beneficial, but they should not take the place of brushing or flossing. Fluoride rinses are not recommended if the
child is under the age of six because there is a worry that the child may
swallow some of the liquid. If this
would happen then it would make it difficult to assess how much fluoride is
ingested thus increasing the possibility of fluorosis.
Fluoride
supplements may be needed for a child who lives in a non-fluoridated area. This decision needs to be made by the child’s
dentist after examining the child and assessing their caries risk, along with
their dietary habits. Some areas have
well water and this type of water supply may have naturally occurring
fluoride. So, before supplements are
prescribed, the water should be tested first so the child will be getting their
optimal level and not too much of fluoride.
Fluoride is a
tool that dentists have used for years to combat and prevent tooth decay. If you have concerns, or questions, please
talk to your dental professional at your recare appointments.
Stephanie
DeFilippo, DDS, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry,
and a pediatric dentist and co-owner of Just Kids at Gettysburg Dental
Associates.
Drs. Null, Seidel & Dental Associates
353 York Street Front
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 334-8193
353 York Street Front
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 334-8193
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