Dental Flouride is commonly found in toothpastes and mouthwashes. But what exactly is fluoride, why are dentists enthusiastic about it, and as a parent, should you have any concerns about fluoride? Our pediatric dentist, Dr. Vartika Singh, busts the common myths about fluoride at Infinity Dental best dental clinic in Lucknow.
Myth 1: Dental fluoride is not at all natural
Dental Fluoride is a natural mineral that is present in many sources. When added to drinking water, fluoride has been shown to significantly reduce tooth decay. The World Health Organization and a number of other important health bodies that have approved the merits of fluoride in improving oral health. Researchers have constantly shown that brushing with fluoridated toothpaste is the first most important way of reducing your child’s risk of tooth decay.
Myth 2: Dental fluoride is not good for you
Dental Fluoride works magical in a number of different ways…
- Even as your child is growing fluoride is included into their developing teeth making the enamel resistant even before the teeth enter the mouth
- Once the teeth are fully erupted it continues its action by making the adult teeth more decay resistant
- Dental Fluoride also interupts with the complex demineralization and demineralization processes that occur when you consume carbohydrates. When fluoride is present during remineralisation, the minerals deposited are harder than they would otherwise be helping to keep your teeth strong
Myth 3: fluoridated water is quite dangerous
In areas with fluoridated water, children are 15% less likely to have had tooth decay than children from non-fluoridated areas. In addition, fluoridated areas have 45% fewer dental decay.
Myth 4: Dental fluoride causes severe side effects
Even though Dental fluoride is very good for our teeth it is important you use correct concentration and amount for the age of your child. As a universal rule children under 3 years should use a smear of toothpaste containing less than 1,000 ppm fluoride and children between age of 3 and 6 should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing more than 1,000 ppm fluoride.
Large fluoride quantities for our teeth can result in a condition called fluorosis, which can cause white spots on the teeth when mild and sometimes larger brown patches when more severe. The risk of fluorosis from intake of too much fluoride is linked to the amount of toothpaste much more than the actual concentration. To avoid this make sure you know how much toothpaste is to be used on your child’s brush and make sure your child does not eat/ licks the toothpaste.
So what can I do to make sure my child gets the right amount of dental fluoride for their teeth?
The most significant thing you can do is support you child with their brushing using fluoridated toothpaste. Fluoride also comes in different forms such as mouthwashes, gel and even in some tooth-coloured fillings.
Are you concerned that your child isn’t getting enough dental fluoride? Book in for a consultation at the best dental clinic in Lucknow, Infinity Dental today!
