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Prevention
Dental Examination | Oral Cancer | Tooth Grinding
Dental Sealants | Fluoride | Bad Breath | Home Care
Fluoride
 What is fluoride and why is it good for my teeth?
Fluoride is a compound of the element fluorine, which is found universally throughout nature in water, soil, air and in most foods. Existing abundantly in living tissue as an ion, fluoride is absorbed easily into tooth enamel, especially in children’s growing teeth. Once teeth are developed, fluoride makes the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay and promotes remineralization, which aids in repairing early decay before the damage is even visible.
“Systemic” fluoride is ingested when added to public and private water supplies, soft drinks and teas, and is available in dietary supplement form. Once systemic fluoride is absorbed via the gastrointestinal tract, the blood supply distributes it throughout the entire body. Most fluoride not excreted is deposited in bones and hard tissues like teeth.
What is a “topical” fluoride and when should I use it?
“Topical” fluoride is found in products containing strong concentrations of fluoride to fight tooth decay. These products, including dentifrices like toothpaste and mouth rinses containing fluoride, are applied directly to the teeth and are then expectorated or rinsed from the mouth without swallowing. Dentists recommend brushing with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day or after every meal, combined with a regimen of flossing and regular dental check-ups.
Professionally-administered topical fluorides such as gels or varnishes are applied by the dentist and left on for about four minutes, usually during a cleaning treatment. For patients with a high risk of dental caries, the dentist may prescribe a special gel for daily home use, to be applied with or without a mouth tray for up to six weeks.
We recommend that most adults and teens use some form of daily supplemental fluoride. Daily fluoride rinses work well for most people. Brush on fluorides also have a good desensitizing effect and some offer antibacterial action. For fluoride we like Colgates Prevident 5000 and fluorides by Discus Dental, available by prescription. It is also a good desensitizer.
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