Fluoride Use

Water is the Perfect Drink for a Healthy Mouth

April 18th, 2017

It’s no secret that water is one of the healthiest things for your body. Aside from providing proper hydration, water contributes to healthy internal organs, and helps regulate your body temperature through sweat production. But, did you know that water is also one of the best tools for a healthy mouth? Let’s discuss some of the ways that water contributes to oral health.

Improves Saliva Production

Did you know that saliva is 99% water? Or that saliva is critical in the fight against cavities? This makes it imperative that you drink plenty of water so that you can keep your enamel strong, and stay cavity-free. When you are low on saliva, you will most likely experience dry mouth – a condition that makes it hard to swallow and chew because of a lack of saliva. By drinking enough water, you help prevent dry mouth and ensure that your saliva is produced at an optimal rate.

Clears Teeth of Sugar

After you’re done eating, there can be leftover food particles between your teeth, and sugar residue left on tooth surfaces that can lead to cavities. You can clear your teeth of unwanted sugar buildup by rinsing your mouth with water immediately after you eat. Simply swish water around for 30 seconds after you eat to clear your teeth of any sugary or food debris leftover from you previous meal.

Water has No Calories

Rising consumption in sugary beverages has been a major contributor to the increasing rate of obesity in the United States. In fact, people who consume 1 – 2 sugary beverages per day are 26% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. This can be avoided by substituting colas, sugary juices and sports drinks with a glass of water. Water doesn’t have any calories, and it contains no sugar, which makes it incredibly healthy.

Is Your Child Drinking Enough Water?

Does your child suffer from dry mouth, or have trouble swallowing? Do they drink a lot of colas, juice or sports drinks? If they drink a lot o sugary drinks and find it tough to swallow, then your child may not be drinking enough water, and their teeth could suffer because of it. If you’re worried that your child may not be drinking enough water, then bring them into our office for a consultation. We will thoroughly evaluate your child’s teeth, and provide you with flexible treatment options that are right for them.

Charlotte Kids’ Dentist Uses Fluoride to Prevent Cavities

October 28th, 2016

Fluoride is good. But like everything else, too much of a good thing is bad. This naturally occurring mineral can help strengthen and protect your children’s teeth. Too much fluoride, however, can cause defects in tooth enamel and in high doses it can even be toxic. Charlotte kids’ dentist Dr. Mujica and her team make good use of fluoride in the office to help ensure your child’s dental health. Read on to learn more about fluoride and its proper use at home and at the dentist.

Where Does Fluoride Come From?

Fluoride is found naturally in water and many of the foods we eat, including fruits and vegetables, meat, grains, eggs and milk. Fluoride is one of the minerals—along with calcium and phosphate—that help to remineralize tooth enamel. Acids produced by the bacteria in plaque attack enamel every day, causing demineralization. Minerals are redeposited from the foods and water we consume. Tooth decay happens when demineralization exceeds remineralization.

How Does Fluoride Help Prevent Cavities?

Fluoride makes your children’s teeth more resistant to the acids that attack each and every day. And with remineralization, it’s possible to even reverse early decay. In children that are younger than six years old, fluoride is actually incorporated in the development of their permanent teeth. For this reason, it is especially important for children between the ages of six months and 16 years to be exposed to safe and effective levels of fluoride.

Fluoride Treatments in the Office

At All Kids Pediatric Dentistry, we apply fluoride treatments to your children’s teeth. Whether applied as foam, gel or varnish, these all have a much higher level of fluoride than you’ll find in toothpaste or any food or water. Left on the teeth for just a few minutes, the effects can last for years. In addition, if your child is particularly susceptible to tooth decay, Dr. Mujica may prescribe a fluoride supplement, which is available in liquid or tablet form.

Fluoride Use at Home

Once children are old enough to spit—somewhere between the ages of two and three years old—you can begin using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when you brush their teeth. Ingesting too much fluoride can lead to fluorosis, which can appear as white specks on teeth or even brown discoloration. For safety sake, therefore, be sure to:

  • Keep all fluoride products out of reach of young children
  • Avoid flavored toothpastes that are more like to be swallowed

Call the Charlotte Kids’ Dentist Today

For more information about the benefits of fluoride, contact All Kids Dentistry in Charlotte.