What Is Fluoride?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring chemical compound ​​found in nature - in rocks, soil, and water. It plays a significant role in preventive dentistry, helping to strengthen enamel, replace lost enamel and control cavity-causing bacteria. This explains why it’s a common ingredient in toothpaste and mouthwashes, and also added to the public water supply.

Is Fluoride Treatment Safe?

Yes, fluoride treatment is safe for kids and adults but only when administered in the correct doses. The United States Preventive Services Task Force, or USPSTF, advises parents to get fluoride treatment for their children once they reach the age of five. However, treatment can proceed even during adulthood. You can start using fluoride toothpaste from the time the first tooth comes in, as long as it is an appropriate amount (see below). 

Fluoride found in toothpaste and tap water is entirely safe, due to the low concentration of fluoride. The same goes for in-office fluoride treatment, both varnish and foam.  Our office provides a variety of fluoride flavors for your child to choose from.  Fluoride treatment is a minimally invasive preventive treatment that doesn't involve injections and incisions.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has clear regulations on the use of fluoride for dental needs. A rice-sized amount of Fluoride toothpaste is recommended for children below three years old. Children above three years old and adults should use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when brushing their teeth. 

‍What Toothpaste Should I Use and How Much Should I Use?

All over-the-counter fluoride toothpastes you can purchase in the United States contain the same amount of low-dose fluoride, safe for daily use.  The main difference between children’s and adult toothpastes are flavor, abrasiveness, and bleaching qualities.  Children’s fluoride toothpastes come in a variety of flavors from mild mint, to bubblegum, strawberry and even chocolate. Some kids will perceive that adult mint toothpastes are too strongly flavored or “spicy”.  For that reason, a children’s toothpaste may be better received by your child.  For taste-sensitive kids, there is even a flavor-free fluoride toothpaste available.  We recommend avoiding adult toothpastes that contain specific abrasive or bleaching ingredients.

We recommend using a grain-of-rice sized amount of fluoride toothpaste until a child can reliably spit it out (around age 4-5 years old).  Additionally, anytime you are helping a child brush where they are reclined back and not able to immediately spit, we recommend the same small amount.  Once a child can spit, the amount of toothpaste can be about the size of a small pea.  After brushing we encourage spitting out the excess toothpaste, but not rinsing.  Leaving the film of fluoride on the teeth helps maximize the healing and protective benefits of fluoride. 

How Does Fluoride Benefit My Child’s Teeth?

Fluoride strengthens the enamel, reducing the risk of dental decay and cavities. As we eat through the day, acids from the foods we eat start to dissolve the weak calcium portion of our enamel.  Sweet foods and drinks and even non-sweet carbohydrates (think crackers, pretzels, chips) are also broken down by bacteria in our mouth.  When these bacteria feed on these sweets and carbs, they release an acidic slime that also dissolves enamel.  If enough enamel is lost, it can create a hole (cavity) that reaches the next layer of tooth, called dentin.  Dentin is soft and porous, and once acid and bacteria reach that layer, acid destruction of the tooth can progress rapidly, sometimes reaching the tooth’s core, causing pain and the potential for the spread of bacterial infection beyond the tooth.  

Fluoride works to prevent mineral loss of your child’s teeth, helping build strong and healthy teeth. Fluoride replaces the missing calcium in the crystalline structure of enamel and is much stronger than the weak calcium it replaced.  In this way, daily fluoride use remineralizes, or “heals”, enamel lost to daily attacks that occur in the natural course of eating and drinking through the day. Fluoride is also an antimicrobial which helps inhibit the growth of cavity-causing bacteria.

Fluoride treatments can help sidestep future dental complications that may be painful and expensive. By inhibiting bacteria, fluoride prevents tooth decay and gum disease, decreasing the risk for the need of costly treatments like dental fillings, crowns and extractions. 

Other Preventative Measures to Protect Your Child’s Teeth

Fluoride treatment is one of many ways to prevent cavities in your little one’s teeth. Here are other effective preventative measures you can use to protect your child’s teeth:‍

Healthy Oral Habits

Being proactive is key to a healthy smile. The number one preventive measure your little one can take is proper oral hygiene habits. Our team can work with you and provide techniques to ensure your child is properly brushing and flossing so they can reduce “tooth problems” in the future. ‍

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are protective coatings that dentists apply to the surfaces of teeth (usually the molars and premolars) to protect them from cavities. The protective groves fill the grooves on the tooth’s surface to prevent them from harboring cavity-causing bacteria.‍

Silver Diamine Fluoride

Silver Diamine Fluoride is a topical solution containing silver ammonium and fluoride that pediatric dentists apply to your child’s teeth to slow or even stop the progression of cavities. The solution contains silver and fluoride which can further kill bacteria and remineralizes teeth damaged by acid.

Visit Our Mission Bay Pediatric Office Today!

Are you looking to protect your child’s teeth from harmful cavities? If so, contact Mission Bay Pediatric Dentistry and we’ll get started with a consultation to determine your little one’s unique needs.