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Dentists explain use of fluoride

  • Published
  • By Capts. Shannan and Derrik Johnson
  • 59th Dental Group
In today's world of sugary, sticky foods and drinks, regular exposure to fluoride is more important than ever. Fluoride helps strengthen teeth and prevents the formation of cavities.

Fluoride is obtained from many different sources. It exists naturally in water sources and is formed from fluorine, the 13th most common element in the earth's crust.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one quarter of 2-to-5-year-olds and half of children ages 12 to 15 have one or more cavities. Additionally, tooth decay has affected two-thirds of young adults ages 16 to 19. Fluoride can help reverse this trend.

Fluoride is especially important for young children because it can help prevent and even reverse the early stages of tooth decay or "cavities," as well as contribute to increased bone density.

Tooth decay happens when the sticky film of bacteria on teeth, known as plaque, breaks down the sugars found in food. This process creates damaging acids that can dissolve the surface of teeth, eventually causing cavities. Fluoride can help prevent this process by becoming part of the structure of developing teeth when ingested, and by contacting tooth surfaces and preventing the acid destruction of teeth.

While fluoride cannot repair cavities, it can reverse early stages of tooth decay by helping to remineralize tooth structure that has been weakened by the bacteria's acid. The remineralization process that occurs with fluoride is beneficial to the teeth of both children and adults.

While fluoride is very important for developing children, it is even more important to make sure they get just the right amount. Too much fluoride can lead to a dental condition called "fluorosis," an unsightly discoloration of the adult teeth.

One of the greatest risk factors for fluorosis in young children ages 2 to 3 years old is ingesting excessive toothpaste while brushing because they cannot yet spit out their toothpaste. Therefore, it's especially critical for parents to brush their children's teeth when they are younger. Even when children are capable of performing their own oral hygiene, parents should monitor their child's tooth brushing habits.

Other ways to prevent excessive fluoride intake include using specially formulated toothpaste made specifically for young children until 30 months old, applying only a pea-sized drop of toothpaste on children's toothbrushes until 8 years old and accounting for all sources of fluoride available to children before requesting supplements from a physician.

Furthermore, avoiding fluoride supplements for children under 6 months of age and obtaining community fluoride levels before giving supplements to a child can reduce the risk of fluorosis. In general, if a child is drinking tap water and living in a community with fluoridated water, the child is most likely getting enough fluoride and will not need supplements.

However, if a child is living in a non-fluoridated community or drinks only bottled water or unfluoridated water, fluoride supplements may be needed and should start at about 6 months of age.

Fluoride can be obtained from multiple sources within the community. Many infant foods contain small amounts of fluoride, including powdered concentrate infant formula, soy-based infant formula, infant dry cereals, creamed spinach and infant chicken products. Many fruits and vegetables also contain fluoride. Some beverages may contain high levels of fluoride, especially decaffeinated teas, white grape juice and juice drinks manufactured in fluoridated cities. Fluoride is found in the drinking water of most major cities, with an ideal amount of 0.7 parts per million for the prevention of tooth decay.

For more information on how much fluoride is in your city's drinking water, visit My Water's Fluoride at http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/MWF/Index.asp.