You have probably heard that fluoride is an important part of preventive dentistry, but you might still have questions. For instance, you might be curious about how important fluoride actually is and whether you and your family are getting enough of it.
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring, ionized form of fluorine and is found in soil, water, rocks, plants and even in the air. Though naturally occurring, fluoride is also added to things like tap water, toothpastes and mouth rinses.
Fluoride treatment for preventive dentistry
Fluoride is good for teeth because it strengthens tooth enamel that has lost strength through demineralization. Enamel is the outer layer of teeth and the hardest substance found in the human body. Enamel helps protect against tooth decay by keeping acidic foods and beverages off your actual teeth. Unfortunately, tooth enamel can be damaged or even lost, making people more susceptible to dental problems.
Once you’ve lost tooth enamel, there’s no way to replace it. Damaged tooth enamel, on the other hand, can be restored to some extent through the process of remineralization. Taking good care of the tooth enamel you have left will lower the chance of you having to seek out an emergency dentist.
Although fluoride is natural, your teeth may benefit from higher concentrations of it than you’re currently getting from your water, toothpastes or mouth rinses. If this is the case, then your family dentist can easily apply more fluoride to your teeth in the form of gels, foams or prescription rinses.
When is fluoride most important?
While also important for adults, fluoride intake is critical for children and teens. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of missing and decaying teeth in 12-year-old children dropped 68% after fluoridated water was introduced to communities between the 1960s and the 1990s.
How to determine whether you need more fluoride
Certain conditions can make people more prone to cavities and other dental problems, and these people would likely benefit from fluoride treatment. Conditions that can make you more susceptible to tooth decay include:
- Braces, bridges and crowns: The point where the tooth structure meets orthodontic equipment can be at an increased risk of decay
- History of cavities: If your dental hygiene habits are good, but you seem to have a new cavity or two every time you visit your family dentist, you might benefit from additional fluoride
- Gum disease: Also called periodontitis, gum disease can expose more of your teeth and their roots to harmful bacteria, which increases your risk of tooth decay
- Xerostomia: Xerostomia is the technical term for dry-mouth conditions that are caused by certain diseases, medications and some types of radiation treatments. The lack of saliva compromises your body’s ability to neutralize acids and wash foods away
If you or someone in your family has any of these conditions, it’s possible that additional fluoride will help to alleviate them.
Can you overdose on fluoride?
While fluoride overdose is possible and quite dangerous, it’s important to understand that it’s extremely uncommon. When it does occur, it most often does so in small children. This is why it’s important to administer toothpaste to your children yourself and monitor their brushing until they establish proper habits.
If you’re worried that you or a family member are getting too much fluoride, you may want to consider contacting your city’s water provider; your city’s water provider can tell you how much fluoride is in your drinking water. If it turns out to be more than you’re comfortable with, you can switch to bottled water or install a filtration system on your sink. Depending on the type of filtration system, you can remove some or all of your water’s fluoride.
Fluoride overdose is rarely fatal, but there are other, more subtle signs that you’re getting too much fluoride. They include:
- Abdominal pain
- A strange salty or soapy taste in your mouth
- Headache
- Drooling
- Slow or irregular heartbeat
- Diarrhea
- Yellow or brownish stains on teeth
If you do happen to notice stains on your teeth, a cosmetic dentist can usually remove them with a thorough cleaning.
Signs and symptoms of fluoride deficiency
Obviously, dental cavities are the main sign of fluoride deficiency, which can also result from poor dental hygiene. Some people in the medical community believe that a lack of fluoride contributes to osteoporosis, a serious bone disease that inhibits calcium absorption, which makes bones brittle and more susceptible to breaks.
If you have any concerns about your fluoride intake or other dental matters, you shouldn’t hesitate to schedule a visit to your family dentist.
