WHAT ARE FLUORIDES?

Fluoride is an essential mineral in your bones and teeth. It also occurs naturally in water, soil, plants, rocks and air.

Fluoride is commonly used in dentistry to strengthen the enamel, i.e. the outermost layer of your teeth. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. It has been used to treat or prevent several oral health problems for decades.

WHY DO WE NEED FLUORIDES?

Fluoride Is essentially used to improve dental health.  Our teeth need fluoride for mainly the following reasons:

1. Improving the strength of enamel of teeth
2. Protecting the teeth against dental decay`

To understand this we must first understand the structure of our teeth:

The outermost and hardest layer of tooth, i.e. enamel, is made of minerals (hydroxyapatite crystals). Yes, it is the hardest substance in the human body but it can be easily destroyed by acids. These acids are produced by the bacteria present on the surface of your teeth by breaking down the sugar and carbohydrates we eat. These acids eat away the minerals in your tooth, a process called Demineralization. Weakened tooth enamel is vulnerable to bacteria that cause cavities.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF FLUORIDES?

1. Fluoride helps rebuild (Remineralize) weakened tooth enamel
2. Fluoride provides strength to the enamel and makes it resistant to decay process
3. Fluoride reverses early signs of tooth decay
4. Fluoride prevents growth of harmful bacteria

SOURCES OF FLUORIDE

• Toothpaste enhanced with fluorides
• Fluoridated water supplies
• Fluoride supplements
• Mouthwash enhanced with fluoride
• Food processed with fluoridated water
• In-office Fluoride gel, foam or varnish

As mentioned, fluoride is found in food and water. It can also be directly applied to the teeth through fluoridated toothpastes and mouth washes containing fluoride in lower concentrations. These are available over-the-counter; stronger concentrations require a doctor’s prescription. A dentist in his or her office can also apply fluoride to the teeth as gel, foam or varnish. These treatments contain much higher levels of fluoride than the amount found in toothpastes and mouth rinses. Varnishes are painted on the teeth; foam is put into a mouth guard, which is applied to the teeth for one to four minutes; gels can be painted on or applied via a mouth guard.

WHEN IS FLUORIDE INTAKE CRITICAL?

If you’re at high risk of developing dental cavities, fluoride is essential for you.  It is certainly important for infants and children between ages of 6 months and 16 years to be exposed to fluoride. This is the time period when permanent teeth come in.  However, adults benefit from fluoride too. New research indicated that topical fluoride- toothpastes, mouth washes, and fluoride treatment- are as important in fighting tooth decay and strengthening developing teeth.

In addition people with certain conditions are at an increased risk of tooth decay and would therefore benefit from fluoride treatment. They include people with:

• DRY MOUTH CONDITIONS
• GUM DISEASES
• HISTORY OF FREQUENT CAVITIES
• PRESENCE OF CROWNS OR BRIDGES OR BRACES

IS THERE ANY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH FLUORIDE USE?

Like most things we put in our mouths, ‘good’ or ‘bad’ is dose dependent.  Fluoride is generally beneficial and safe in right concentration.  0.6 ppm of fluoride in drinking water is very safe and effective. Topical fluoride gels are safe as the majority isn’t swallowed. Prescription fluoride pills are safe when taken as directed. All prevent cavities and harden teeth.

However, excessive exposure to fluoride has been linked to a number of health issues.

DENTAL FLUOROSIS –

Exposure to extremely high concentrations of fluoride, usually in water supply, during childhood, when teeth are developing, can result in a mild condition called dental fluorosis.  This results in white spots on the surface of teeth.

Other than the appearance of white spots, dental fluorosis doesn’t cause any symptoms or harm.

 It tends to affect only children under the age of 8 who have permanent teeth still coming in. Children are also more likely to swallow toothpaste, which contains significantly more fluoride than fluoridated water.

SKELETAL FLUOROSIS-

Skeletal fluorosis is similar to dental fluorosis, but it involves bones instead of teeth.  It tends to result from long term exposure of high levels of fluoride, often in drinking water. 

HOW TO AVOID FLUORIDE TOXICITY

1. STOP DRINKING FLUORIDATED WATER- The largest daily source of fluoride exposure for people living in areas adding fluoride to community water supply is tap water. Avoiding consumption of this fluoridated tap water is especially critical for infants. If you live in areas with fluoridated water you can avoid drinking the fluoride in one of the three ways: WATER FILTER, OR SPRING WATER, OR WATER DISTILLATION.
2. DON’T LET YOUR CHILD SWALLOW FLUORIDE TOOTHPASTE- Supervise children younger than three years old. Use a small ‘pea’ sized amount of toothpaste. Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste and avoid swallowing.

TIPS FOR HEALTHY TEETH

• Not all toothpastes have fluoride, so check the ingredients in your toothpaste box.
• If you have fluoride in toothpaste, wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything after brushing.
• Rinsing after brushing washes away the fluoride that is topically delivered to your teeth. Ideally opt for spitting instead of rinsing with water after brushing with fluoridated toothpaste.
• Brush twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste. Make sure you go over and around each tooth on all sides to ensure you don’t leave any area untouched. Ask your dentist to demonstrate correct brushing techniques.
• Getting a regular dental check up every six months is extremely important. Not only will your mouth be professionally cleaned, but also you should receive a concentrated fluoride treatment which may come in the form of a flavoured foam or gel tray or fluoride varnish applied on outer layer of your teeth.
• The effects of professional treatments last much longer than at-home products or through dietary consumption. Professional treatment is extremely important if you are susceptible to cavities as they boost the tooth enamel strength and make sure that every surface of each tooth is reached.