A key part of getting the most out of your daily oral hygiene routine is using the right products for your smile. With that in mind, our Mill Valley dentists have put together this short overview on the importance of one oral hygiene ingredient: fluoride. Keep reading to learn more…
Get The Facts
Fluoride is naturally occurring mineral; you’ll find it in small quantities in rocks, soil, air, and water. A primary benefit of fluoride for humans is that it has been shown to support the re-mineralization of dental enamel. Re-mineralization is the process through which enamel is strengthened and hardened.
Unfortunately, dental enamel is regularly de-mineralized and softened through exposure to bacteria and acidic foods and drinks. Fluoride helps to counteract de-mineralization related dental damage and infections. That is why drinking water in the United States is further enriched with fluoride to fight cavities.
Ways To Get Fluoride
You have started getting the fluoride you need by drinking water regularly, and by cleaning your smile as recommended by your dentist team. If you are using a toothpaste that is formulated for adults, then it is likely that you are getting fluoride that way, as well. You can also add a fluoridated mouth rinse into your routine.
Patients with particularly soft enamel and vulnerable teeth may benefit from more potent topical gels and mouth rinses that contain fluoride. These are dentist-prescribed, so talk to your dental team if you think you may benefit from more fluoride.
One Exception
On the whole, fluoride is undoubtedly for good for dental health. However, we do need to be careful about using fluoridated products with young dental patients. If your child is young enough to regularly swallow toothpaste, they shouldn’t use a formulation with fluoride in it. When a child, with developing adult teeth, ingests too much fluoride, they can develop a condition called dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis causes adult teeth to develop with discoloration and enamel irregularities. So, make sure you talk to your dental team about when your child can start using fluoride.
Do you have any additional questions about fluoride or oral hygiene products in general? If so, please feel free to reach out to our Mill Valley dentists to speak to a member of our team, and to schedule a personal consultation!