Fluoride

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in many foods and water. In dentistry, healthcare providers use fluoride to strengthen teeth and reduce the risk of cavities. Health experts consider fluoride safe and effective when used at recommended levels. Ask your dentist for product recommendations and how often you should get fluoride treatments.

What does fluoride do?

Every day, your enamel (the protective outer layer of your tooth) gains and loses minerals. You lose minerals when acids — formed from bacteria, plaque and sugars in your mouth — attack your enamel. (This process is demineralization.)

You gain minerals — like fluoride, calcium and phosphate — when you consume food and water that contain these minerals. (This process is remineralization.)

Tooth decay is a result of too much demineralization without enough remineralization.

Dental fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making your enamel more resistant to acid attacks. It also reverses early tooth decay.

Types of fluoride used in dentistry

Many foods and water contain fluoride. You can also purchase fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash. You can buy low-strength fluoride mouthwash over the counter. Stronger concentrations in liquid or tablet form need a healthcare provider’s prescription.

A dentist can also apply fluoride to your teeth in the form of:

• Foam: Your dentist applies fluoride to your teeth by placing foam in a custom tray. They place the tray over your teeth.
• Gel: They may put gel into a custom tray and place the tray over your teeth. They can also paint gel on your teeth.
• Varnish: Like gel, your dentist may paint varnish on your teeth.

At what age is fluoride intake most important?

Infants and children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years need an appropriate amount of fluoride. Developing teeth benefit from fluoride just as much as teeth that have already erupted (grown in).

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends watching how much fluoride infants and young children take in. The ADA specifically recommends avoiding reconstituted liquid formulas, such as liquid concentrate or powdered baby formulas that require mixing with fluoridated water. Instead, the ADA recommends breast milk, ready-to-feed formula or prepared formula mixed with fluoride-free water.

These recommendations are to guard against enamel fluorosis. These are faint white streaks that can appear on tooth enamel during a child’s developmental years. This can happen even before teeth erupt through the gums.

For young children, the ADA also recommends you keep a close eye on your kids when they brush their teeth. They should:

• Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste at each brushing
• Spit toothpaste out instead of swallowing it

The ADA also recommends the following:

• Babies ages 6 months and younger shouldn’t take dietary supplements that contain fluoride.
• Children under age 6 shouldn’t use fluoride mouth rinses unless their dentists or healthcare providers recommend it.

Do adults benefit from fluoride?

Yes, adults can benefit from fluoride, too. You might especially benefit from fluoride if you have:

• Dry mouth (xerostomia): Conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome and some medications, like antihistamines, cause dry mouth. Saliva (spit) helps wash away food particles and bacteria. Dry mouth increases your risk of gum disease and cavities.
• Gum disease: This exposes your teeth and gums to bacteria and increases your risk of tooth decay.
• A history of tooth decay: Additional fluoride may help prevent more tooth decay.
• Certain dental devices: Crowns, bridges, braces or removable partial dentures can increase your risk of cavities. This is especially true at the spot where your crown meets your tooth, or where you have orthodontic brackets.

What happens during fluoride treatment?

A dentist or hygienist can give you a fluoride treatment during a routine dental exam or cleaning. They’ll apply a fluoride gel, foam or varnish to your teeth. Typically, a fluoride treatment takes less than five minutes.

What are the benefits of fluoride?

Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces your risk of cavities by approximately 25%.

Specifically, fluoride:

• Remineralizes your tooth enamel
• Reverses early tooth decay
• Slows down the process of demineralization
• Prevents the growth of cavity-causing bacteria

What are the risks or side effects of fluoride?

The most common side effect of fluoride is fluorosis. This condition typically happens during tooth development, usually in children under the age of 6.

Fluorosis most often results from consuming naturally occurring fluoride, like that found in well water. The optimal level of fluoride is 0.7 parts per million. This is the amount in public water supplies in the communities that have fluoridated water. If you have well water, testing a sample can help determine how much fluoride is in your water.

You can’t brush fluorosis away, but a dentist might be able to use special bleaching methods to address the issue. If professional whitening doesn’t work, you can opt for dental bonding or porcelain veneers.

How often should I have fluoride treatments?

The answer to this question depends on your unique oral health needs. Many people benefit from fluoride treatments every six months. If you’re prone to cavities, you might benefit from more frequent treatments. To find out what’s right for you, talk to your dentist.