Fluoride has always been regarded as an essential mineral in oral hygiene. It absorbs into and strengthens tooth enamel, helping to prevent tooth decay. All dentists recommend using toothpaste with fluoride content to improve oral health.
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a compound of fluorine that is often called nature’s cavity fighter. It is a naturally occurring mineral that helps prevent cavities in children and adults. It does so by making the enamel more resistant to acid attacks that cause decay.
Sources of FluorideÂ
Drink Water With Fluoride
Fluoride naturally occurs in abundance in almost all water sources like rivers, lakes, wells, and oceans. For more than seven decades, fluoride has been added to public water supplies to increase fluoride levels and help prevent tooth decay.
Fluoride can also be found in water from wells. Before water fluoridation, children contracted about three times more cavities than now. Studies show that water fluoridation has helped prevent at least 25% of tooth decay in children and adults. Today, almost 75% of the U.S. population is served with fluoride-containing water.
Toothpaste Containing Fluoride
Since 1960, toothpaste containing fluoride has significantly helped prevent damage to teeth. Most dentists nowadays recommend using toothpaste having fluoride content in it. To keep your oral health good, do the following:
- Brush your teeth twice or thrice a day with a toothpaste containing fluoride or as directed by your doctor.
- For children below three years of age, use only a smear of paste the size of a grain of rice. Give them a pea-size amount of toothpaste when they become older (3 to 6 years of age). Always supervise your children while brushing their teeth, ensuring they do not gulp down the foam. Also, make sure they brush properly, covering all the teeth.
- Floss your teeth thoroughly once or twice a day to remove unwanted food particles stuck between teeth. This can help remove debris and prevent plaque and cavities.
- Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after every meal if you cannot floss or brush at the moment. Using mouthwash containing fluoride can also help in resisting tooth decay. But unless told by an expert, refrain from giving mouthwash to your kids.
Visit Your Dentist
Visit your dentist regularly and get check-ups done, as periodic checking can prevent colossal damage. Contact our experts to learn more about fluoride facts or book an appointment with Dr. Jeanne V. Devi, DDS- call us at (626) 795-2544 or visit our website. We are located at 595 E Colorado Blvd Suite 603, Pasadena, CA 91101.
