Charlotte kids dentistry

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.