Fluoride
Fluoride
Fluoride maintains gorgeous smiles!
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral which helps to prevent cavities. It not only hardens your child’s teeth, but can also reverse tooth decay in its early stages!
Incorporating fluoride into your child’s dental hygiene routine, alongside brushing, flossing and regular dentist check-ups, is key to keeping their smile healthy and shining.
How exactly does fluoride work?
Where Does Fluoride Live?
You might be surprised to know that there are plenty of ways to add more fluoride into your daily routine! Here are some of the most common ways:
Water
Water fluoridation is the process of adding fluoride to a community’s public water supply in order to prevent cavities. In 2016, 72.8 percent of the American population had access to fluoridated water. Well water, and other sources, may not have enough fluoride to provide adequate cavity protection, but we can cover this topic more at your next dental visit!
Diet
You’ll find fluoride in various foods and drinks, however it’s more prevalent in processed foods. Although surprisingly, large quantities of fluoride aren’t the best for you. To find out why, take a check out our FAQ section. The easiest way to make sure your kiddo is getting enough fluoride is by ensuring they have a balanced diet overall.
Toothpaste
For optimal dental health, we recommend adding fluoride toothpaste to your child’s daily routine. Fluoride strengthens the enamel, making it more resistant to cavities and decay.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommends using fluoridated toothpaste for kids. Fluoridated mouthwash is another great way to get extra fluoride into your child’s daily routine. Check out our FAQ below for more information on how much toothpaste and mouthwash to use.
Treatment
Our Auburn pediatric dentists recommend that children under the age of 15 should have a fluoride treatment at least two times per year in order to prevent tooth decay. If there are already signs of deterioration, silver diamine fluoride may be recommended.
There are many fluoride sources available, so how do you know which one to choose? We recommend using a mix of all four types!
What To Know About Sweets
FAQs About Fluoride
Know the ins-and-outs of fluoride!
What makes up silver diamine fluoride, and how does it work?
Silver and fluoride, when mixed, create a colorless liquid. The fluoride works to remineralize and strengthen the tooth while the silver seeps into the enamel’s base layers in order to eliminate bacteria that leads to cavities. When used together, these two elements have the ability to slow or halt tooth decay altogether.
If your child is demonstrating signs of decay but isn’t able yet (or unable) to get restorative treatment, we may recommend using silver diamine fluoride instead. This fluoridation procedure can impede further decay until your kiddo is ready (and old enough) for more permanent treatments.
Can my child safely have fluoride?
Yes, it’s safe to consume in small doses!
While fluoride dental products like toothpaste and mouthwash are safe, consuming too much can result in dental fluorosis. This condition mainly affects teeth that have not yet come through the gums and results in white spots on the tooth’s surface.
The health and safety of our patients is always our top priority. We work hard to make sure that our processes for administering topical fluoride and silver diamine fluoride at Smile Surfers in Auburn are both effective and safe.
What’s the correct fluoride toothpaste dosage?
If your children are under the age of three, have them use a “smear” of toothpaste. For those aged 3 to 6, a pea-sized amount will do. Always brush your teeth with your children and coach them through the process; this way you can make sure all their teeth are clean as well as ensure they don’t swallow any toothpaste.
As soon as your child’s first tooth pops up, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you start brushing their teeth with a toothbrush and fluoride-based toothpaste.
How much do fluoride treatments cost? Does insurance cover it?
Insurance companies often cover fluoride treatments.
If your insurance policy permits, we will always recommend two treatments each year. However, some carriers only fund one treatment annually. If that is the case for you, then we’ll figure out a way for your child to still receive the two treatments suggested by the American Dental Association (ADA) and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD).
If you have any questions about cost or insurance coverage, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We would be more than happy to help you with anything you need.
What is a Caries Risk Assessment?
A Caries Risk Assessment is a test that lets us know your child’s probability of getting cavities. Depending on the results, our pediatric dentists may tell you different ways to take care of your child’s teeth at home and what treatments they suggest. That way, we can avoid any dental health problems for your kiddo altogether!
The Caries Risk Assessment is important for dental health, and fluoride is a key part of that! We will explore several aspects of your child’s daily routine, such as:
- Amount of water that they drink per day
- The quality of the water
- Diet
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Brushing and flossing techniques
Have fears about cavities? Call to set up an appointment at our Auburn location for your little surfer!
