Why Does My Winter Park Dentist Recommend Fluoride Treatment?
Why does my Winter Park dentist recommend fluoride treatment?
Fluoride is a key mineral in modern dentistry that helps repair your tooth enamel and make it more resistant to cavities. Because cavities often are the first sign of damage to a tooth, it's essential to try and prevent them, as further damage can lead to more significant restorations or remedies (such as crowns, root canals, or even extractions). A practical and safe application of fluoride is a simple habit that can help repair the damage in a process called remineralization of tooth enamel.
How does fluoride protect your teeth?
The "remineralization" or repair of your tooth enamel involves the growth of enamel crystals. The enamel structure of your tooth is made up of these crystals. Specifically, fluoride applied topically (directly to the tooth surface) increases the speed and size of enamel crystal growth. This results in that additional protection for areas that may have a cavity, starting by re-mineralizing that area with larger enamel crystals which can be more resistant to damaging acids.
In addition to the topical fluoride (applied by your Winter Park dentist or in your toothpaste), another mechanism for patients to receive fluoride is systemic fluoride treatment – typically through fluoridated water provided by your local water sources. This absorption of fluoride through consuming water results in fluoride being used by the body to replace the natural enamel crystals (known as hydroxyapatite) with fluoride crystals (known as fluorapatite), which is believed to be more resistant to tooth decay than hydroxyapatite.
Is fluoride treatment effective?
In a word, yes! Although it's difficult to study an individual's daily habits, from brushing with a fluoride toothpaste or how often they visit and receive fluoride from a dentist – large population studies on drinking water are perhaps the strongest indicator that fluoride is effective. Generally, multiple research studies show a 20%-40% reduction in cavities from a general child to an adult population from having fluoridated water in a community. Not only does this reflect in healthier communities, but also a significant cost avoidance from dental restorations or other complications from cavities. Within our local Winter Park community, we do have fluoridated water for the purpose of preventing tooth decay.
Is fluoride safe?
When used correctly, fluoride treatment is safe for children and adults. The primary concern is too much fluoride. Specifically, patients fear that having fluorinated water in addition to fluoride toothpaste and even fluoride treatment at a dental visit would be too much exposure. There is some basis for the fear of having too much fluoride, a condition known as fluorosis. Research indicates that children are at higher risk of fluorosis as their teeth are maturing. Within a community with fluoridated water, the main risk is children swallowing their fluoride toothpaste, which not only serves as a topical application but is also absorbed by the bloodstream. It should be noted that instances of fluorosis in children tend to be from communities and countries without access to fluoridated water, which supplements with fluoride through either milk or salt, with the primary risk factor being additional consumption through these sources.
For children 3 years and younger, the ADA guidelines is to use fluoride toothpaste, but no more than a rice grain-sized amount each time. For children 3 to 6 years, the ADA recommends no larger than a pea-sized amount. Additionally, you should encourage children to spit out their toothpaste and not swallow it after brushing.
Fluoride mouth rinses can be effective for adults but are not recommended for children under 6 years of age, as they can have trouble spitting out the mouthwash.
At the time of this article's writing, our local Winter Park water system is fluoridated at a concentration of 0.70 mg/L for the purpose of preventing tooth decay. The CDC notes this concentration to be well below the typical risk of fluorosis while still not warranting additional ingested supplements like tablets or drops.
Should I add fluoride to my dental routine?
Your favorite Winter Park dentist will be happy to discuss the right amount of fluoride for you. During a routine dental visit, you can speak with the local dentist to address which forms of fluoride you are exposed to and if additional fluoride in toothpaste, mouthwash, or office treatment would benefit you!
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