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.

Nadine Smith

The post 10 Facts About Fluoride Treatments appeared first on Semiahmoo Dental Centre.

Most of us have had a cavity at one point in our lives. Luckily, they’re treatable with the right care; however, this doesn’t make them any less of a nuisance. While most of us get cavities in the teeth towards the backs of our mouths, is this the only at risk area? Let’s dive deeper into cavities to determine if all our teeth are at risk.

Cavities and Teeth

Humans have four main types of teeth. The front teeth are called incisors. There are four incisors on the top jaw (called the maxilla) and four on the bottom (called the mandible). Next to the incisors, on either side, is a canine tooth. These are on the top and bottom too. Next, come two premolars on either side, top, and bottom. Finally, at the very back of the top and bottom jaw are three molars on each side.

Most cavities occur in the molars and premolars. Their rough surfaces make it easier for them to grind up food when chewing. The bumpy, uneven surface is a perfect place for food particles to stick. If those pieces of food don’t get cleaned away with brushing and flossing, their acids can eat away at teeth, causing cavities. Unfortunately, it can be hard to reach some of these spots while brushing, making them prone to cavities.

Since incisors are the easiest to reach and naturally smoother than back teeth, cleaning them is easier. This makes cavities less likely on the front teeth, but they are still possible.

How does a cavity form?

A cavity forms when acids and sugars combine with bacteria in the mouth. They build up on teeth to form a sticky substance called plaque. If the plaque stays there long enough, it will start to eat away at the hard, outer layer of the tooth called the enamel.

The resulting hole is called a cavity. It can be shallow and only impact the enamel, or it can keep decaying the tooth and go deeper. If it reaches the softer part of the tooth beneath the enamel called the dentin, it will grow and spread even faster. Eventually, it might get to the pulp chamber. This is the root that’s filled with blood vessels and nerves. At this point, the bacteria can cause a painful infection called an abscess.

How to diagnose a cavity?

When cavities are small, a patient might not even know they have one. They may only show up with an x-ray at the dentist’s office. As they grow, they are more likely to cause pain and discomfort. It may be hard to chew and hot or cold beverages might hurt. Sometimes, a cavity will be visible as a brown or gray mark on the tooth. This may be easy to spot if the cavity is on a front tooth.

Cavities and Adults

For adults, cavities in front teeth form for the same reasons and in the same way as cavities in any other part of the mouth. They are usually due to a combination of inadequate brushing and flossing, and a diet full of sugary, acidic food and drink. Certain medical conditions and heredity can also play a part in a person’s chances of getting cavities.

Cavities and Children

When small children get cavities on front teeth, it could be because of “baby bottle tooth decay.” Most doctors ask parents to avoid letting their infants and toddlers have a bottle overnight or for long periods during the day. This can allow the natural sugars from milk, formula, or fruit juices to linger in the mouth. The result is bacteria that can cause cavities in baby teeth. Even though baby teeth eventually fall out, they are extremely important to a child’s dental development. Cavities at a young age can interfere with chewing and talking.

Good dental care should start even before teeth pop up, with wiping a baby’s gums. Brushing should become routine when teeth appear. The first trip to the dentist should be within six months of that time, or around the baby’s first birthday.

Nadine Smith

The post Can You Get Cavities on Your Front Teeth? appeared first on Semiahmoo Dental Centre.