Extra Protection for Your Smile
Fluoride is a natural element that’s proven to be effective in minimizing tooth decay and oral disease. Its benefits have been apparent for over 50 years and it’s recommended by several professional organizations that promote health and wellness.
To protect your teeth, fluoride is a common ingredient in toothpaste, oral gel, mouthwash, and many community water supplies.
Two Types of Fluoride
Topical Fluoride:
Topical fluoride strengthens your teeth once they’ve erupted from your gums. This type of fluoride reinforces your enamel, making it more resistant to decay. Topical fluoride is available in toothpaste, mouth rinses, and gels.
We recommend that children have a professional application of fluoride twice a year during their regular dental checkups.
Systemic Fluoride:
Systemic fluoride strengthens both the teeth that have erupted as well as those still developing beneath the gums. This type of fluoride is available in many community water supplies.
You can also buy fluoride drops for infants and fluoride tablets for children to use throughout their teen years. Fluoride is an invaluable resource for protecting patients against tooth decay.
Reasons to Use Fluoride
Most people receive fluoride through their food and water, but getting additional fluoride protection when you brush or getting fluoride treatments can:
- Prevent cavities from developing on chewing surfaces
- Provide additional protection for patients with a condition called dry mouth
- Protect exposed and sensitive root structures
- Provide extra protection if your diet contains a lot of sugar
Frequently Asked Questions
Because enamel is the outer layer of your tooth, this is your first line of defense against tooth decay. Fluoride helps your enamel by preventing mineral loss and promoting the remineralization of the enamel.
It’s beneficial to get fluoride from a variety of sources to protect your teeth against decay. But there’s a risk when children ingest fluoridated toothpaste. For this reason, we recommend that children under the age of two use an ADA-approved, non-fluoridated brand of toothpaste.
Your pediatric dentist can best determine if your child could benefit from a fluoride supplement. We’ll ask you about the amount of fluoride your child currently gets and recommend the right course of treatment.
Yes, fluoride treatments are safe when they’re administered properly. Our Swansea dentists are highly experienced and will make sure any fluoride provided to you or your child are safe. Fluoride is also available in toothpaste and mouthwash for at-home use, which is encouraged.
Yes, fluoride stains can happen if too much fluoride is given to a child — this is called fluorosis. The growing adult teeth can develop with pale spots on them. These stains are permanent and can’t be corrected with teeth whitening, though other cosmetic treatments such as veneers can improve the appearance of the affected teeth.