Fluoride
Fluoride
A beautiful smile is protected by fluoride!
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. It hardens your child’s teeth, making cavities less likely. Fluoride can even help prevent tooth decay in its early stages!
Fluoride, along with brushing, flossing, and visiting your pediatric dentist, is a crucial part of your little surfer’s dental hygiene routine.
So, how does fluoride work?
The bacteria in your child’s mouth thrives on the sugars in the food items that he or she eats or drinks. This results in an acid reaction on the surface of your child’s teeth, which takes away the calcium and phosphate while making the teeth more vulnerable to decay.
Saliva plays an essential role in preserving their teeth from acid, but it isn’t always adequate. This is when fluoride enters the picture.
Fluoride contributes to the remineralization and strengthening of tooth enamel. It strengthens weakened teeth and prevents cavities.
Where Can I Find Fluoride?
The answer may surprise you! Adding more fluoride in your lifestyle is easier than you might think. Here are the most typical ways:
Water
Water fluoridation is the process of increasing the amount of fluoride in a community’s public water supply in order to prevent cavities. In 2016, 72.8 percent of the American population had access to fluoridated water. Well water, and other sources , may not have enough fluoride to provide adequate cavity protection. We’ll be sure to go over this topic at your next dental visit!
Diet
Fluoride is found in a number of foods and drinks, especially processed foods, which are more likely to contain the mineral. Large dosages of fluoride, on the other hand, aren’t the healthiest option. If you’re wondering why, have a look at our FAQ. You can guarantee that your little surfer gets enough fluoride by feeding them a well-balanced diet.
Toothpaste
We recommend adding fluoride toothpaste to your child’s daily regimen since it helps the enamel absorb the mineral more effectively.
Fluoridated toothpaste is highly useful for kiddos, as advised by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists. Read our FAQ below for more information on the suggested quantities. Using fluoridated mouthwash is another method to get additional fluoride into your little surfer’s regimen.
Treatment
At your child’s checkup, our Sumner pediatric dentists will provide a topical fluoride treatment. This procedure is an excellent resource for preventing tooth decay since it contains more fluoride than other sources, making it extremely effective. If your child is under the age of 15, we recommend that they have a fluoride treatment at least two times per year. If there are already signs of deterioration, silver diamine fluoride may be recommended.
How do you tell which fluoride source is the best when there are so many? Rather than attempting to determine which is the best, we recommend a balanced mix of all four!
What To Know About Sweets
FAQs About Fluoride
Become a fluoride expert!
What is silver diamine fluoride made of, and how does it function?
Silver and fluoride combine to form a colorless liquid. The fluoride remineralizes and strengthens the tooth while the silver penetrates the enamel’s base to eradicate cavity-causing bacteria. These two elements, when paired, have the potential to slow or stop tooth decay.
If your child shows signs of decay but is ineligible for or unable to get restorative treatment currently, we may propose silver diamine fluoride. Until your little surfer is ready to obtain the right treatment, this fluoride procedure can deter ongoing tooth decay.
Is fluoride safe for my child?
Absolutely, it’s safe when taken in small amounts!
Fluoride dental products like toothpaste and mouthwash are safe as long as an excessive amount is not consumed. Excessive amounts of fluoride can cause dental fluorosis, a condition that affects teeth that are still developing beneath the gums and results in white spots on the tooth’s surface.
We work hard to make sure that our processes for administering topical fluoride and silver diamine fluoride at Smile Surfers in Sumner are both effective and exceedingly safe.
What fluoride toothpaste dosage should I use for my child?
They should be using a “smear” of toothpaste if they are under the age of three. A pea-sized amount of toothpaste will suffice for children aged 3 to 6. We recommend that you accompany your children as they’re still learning to brush their teeth and coach them through the procedure. This guarantees that all of their teeth are thoroughly cleaned while also allowing you to monitor them to ensure that they do not swallow toothpaste.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends brushing with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste as soon as your little surfer’s first tooth appears.
How much are fluoride treatments, and are they covered by insurance?
Fluoride treatments are frequently covered by dental insurance.
In certain cases, your insurance carrier may only cover this therapy once a year. If that is your situation, we’ll come together to find a method for your child to receive the two treatments recommended by the ADA and AAPD each year.
For an estimated cost or to verify your insurance coverage, please contact us! Our friendly team is ready to assist you with everything you require!
What is a Caries Risk Assessment?
A Caries Risk Assessment is a precautionary test that determines your child’s chances of acquiring cavities. Our pediatric dentists may adapt their guidance for at-home behaviors and treatment recommendations based on this information, ensuring that your little surfer avoids any dental health difficulties.
Fluoride is an important part of the Caries Risk Test! Because of that, we’ll look into several factors of your child’s daily routine, like:
- Amount of water that they drink per day
- The quality of the water
- Diet
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Brushing and flossing techniques
If you’re worried about cavities, call our Sumner location to schedule a visit for your little surfer!
