What Is Fluoride and How Does it Work?
Posted on July 7, 2023
Fluoride is one of the biggest keys to taking care of your teeth. According to the CDC, fluoride can prevent up to 33% of cavities in baby teeth. Keep reading to find out more about fluoride and how it can help keep your child’s teeth healthy.
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral that’s naturally occurring in water and some foods. In its pure form, fluoride has a white appearance that’s similar to salt. While there’s a very distinct taste to fluoride, it doesn’t have an odor. It’s regularly used in toothpaste and other oral hygiene products to help protect teeth and fight back against cavities. Odds are, you or your child has received a fluoride treatment at the dentist. A fluoride treatment is a varnish, gel, or foam that’s applied to the teeth that takes a little less than five minutes.
What Does It Do?
The main purpose of fluoride is to prevent tooth decay. When you use a toothpaste containing fluoride or get a fluoride gel or foam treatment, it helps make the enamel on your teeth more resistant to acids. Regular fluoride use is a great way to prevent tooth decay by making your enamel tougher, and it can even help put a stop to tooth decay that’s already in progress. You can talk to a dentist for kids to learn more about the science behind fluoride and how it can help improve your child’s teeth.
Is Fluoride Safe?
It’s good to be aware of what your kids are consuming, so you can make sure it’s safe. Fortunately, fluoride is nothing to worry about when it comes to safety. The drinking water in many cities has natural fluoride, and fluoride is found in a long list of dental products. The general consensus is that fluoride doesn’t have any negative health effects, and it does an excellent job of keeping your teeth in good shape. If you’re looking for a good brand of toothpaste or mouthwash, you can ask your dentist if they have any recommendations.
Oral hygiene is one of the most important things for kids to focus on in terms of health. It’s good to get your children brushing and flossing regularly at a young age. Using products with fluoride can help prevent long-term tooth decay. When it’s time for your child’s next cleaning, give us a call to schedule an appointment with a dentist for kids at Creekside Smiles today.
