10 Facts About Fluoride Treatments

Most people have heard about fluoride before, but most people don’t really know that much about it. Sure, it’s in many toothpastes and even added to some municipalities’ drinking water supplies. But not all of them! In fact, fluoride has become a point of contention for some people who don’t support the addition of fluoride to their lives.

What’s the deal with fluoride?

We’ve compiled some facts for you, and by the end you will hopefully have all the information you need to make an informed opinion. Here are 10 facts about fluoride treatments:

1. Fluoride is natural

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that keeps teeth healthy and help prevents decay. It can naturally be found in water, soil and even the air, and it can also be ingested in certain foods, including seafood like shrimp and crab.

2. Fluoride works to protect teeth and keep them strong

Fluoride does a lot of heavy lifting to keep teeth strong and healthy. Throughout the day, bacteria in the mouth mixes with sugars from foods and drinks to make acids and settles in on the teeth and gums. These acids weaken teeth causing tooth decay. Fluoride helps to protect teeth against acid attacks and can reverse early stages of tooth decay.

3. Fluoride is safe for children

When children get their first teeth, it is important to start teaching them good hygiene habits right away. After the age of 3, they can use a pea-size amount of toothpaste with fluoride in it. Parents can help them learn how to brush and spit without swallowing. 

4. Fluoride restores minerals

Since it is a mineral itself, fluoride works by replenishing the minerals to tooth surfaces where bacteria may have begun to eat away at the enamel. With fluoride in water and toothpaste, it can serve to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth, while helping to prevent cavities.

5. Too much fluoride can have negative effects

Like too much of anything, too high levels of fluoride can cause issues not just for your teeth but the body as a whole. Some of the common effects of too much fluoride are that it can cause white specks on mature teeth, or staining and pitting on teeth. It can also create problems with bones, making them very dense but not very strong.

6. Fluoride treatments at your dentist’s office are very beneficial

Compared to products you can buy at the store, the treatment you receive at the dentist’s office can give your tooth structure a helpful boost of minerals to strengthen weak spots and reduce sensitivity.  

7. Fluoride has long-term benefits

Studies have shown that children who receive fluoride treatments grow up to have stronger, healthier teeth. This saves money and expensive dental treatments later in life, and when it’s coupled with proper dental hygiene, it is helping the teeth be stronger, longer.

8. Some cities add fluoride to their drinking water – but not all

Even throughout Metro Vancouver, different cities have different policies about adding fluoride to their water. If your municipality doesn’t add the mineral to their tap water, it’s important then to brush with fluoride toothpaste.

9. Most bottled water does not have fluoride

We are so lucky to drink the free-flowing water from our taps that we don’t need to buy bottled water. Check if your municipality is providing water with fluoride to get an understanding of how much you are taking in.

10. Fluoride is helpful if you’re predisposed or at high risk for cavities

Cavities are the result of bacteria build up on teeth and gums and forms a layer of plaque. This plaque produces an acid that eats away at the enamel on the teeth, as well as the gum tissue. If the plaque breaks down the enamel layer, bacteria can infect and harm the nerves and blood at the core of the tooth.

 

If you are looking for a dentist in the White Rock and South Surrey area, we hope you get in touch. Whether you are looking for a fluoride treatment or any other dental treatment, our staff is ready and waiting to help. You’re never too young or old to invest in your oral hygiene and we can help you with every step of the way.