This means that fluoride is a natural ingredient when used in fluoride toothpaste. Some examples of fluoride compounds include calcium fluoride, sodium fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, and stannous fluoride sometimes called tin fluoride. Sodium fluoride and stannous fluoride are two types that are often used in toothpaste. When you use a product containing fluoride, like toothpaste, the fluoride ends up in your saliva. When your teeth are coated in that saliva, the enamel the outermost layer of the teeth ends up absorbing the fluoride.
Once there, the fluoride bonds with the calcium and phosphate that naturally exist in your enamel to create fluorapatite, which is a strong material that can resist decay and help prevent cavities. Fluoride is safe and effective when used properly and in appropriate doses, but like anything else, it is possible to get too much of a good thing. After decades of research, the main risk linked to fluoride overuse is dental fluorosis , a condition that kids can develop if they're exposed to excessive fluoride for an extended period of time when they're too young.
Affected children may have teeth with white spots or lines, and in some cases, even brown or gray discoloration on the enamel of their teeth. Since all water fluoridation systems in developed countries are checked to maintain safe fluoride levels, fluorosis might occur when children swallow too much fluoride toothpaste.
You can discuss any concerns with your dental professional and they can recommend the best course of action for your child. There has never been any scientific evidence linking fluoride to adverse health effects when consumed in the correct amounts. In fact, the evidence consistently shows that fluoride is safe and effective in the amounts your toothpaste and household tap provides. It's not just the CDC that upholds the merits of fluoride, though; according to the American Dental Association ADA , more than organizations around the world also recognize its safety and value.
You have a few options when it comes to fluoride treatments. Topical fluoride products are applied directly to the teeth, and they include toothpaste, mouth rinses and professional fluoride treatments in your dental office. Although they are only in the mouth for a short time, topical fluoride treatments cause fluoride levels in the mouth to remain higher for several hours after use.
As long as you have healthy teeth to begin with, the combination of fluoridated drinking water and fluoride toothpaste is likely sufficient for your daily routine. If your tap water isn't fluoridated, or if you drink bottled water that doesn't contain fluoride, your dentist may recommend in-office fluoride treatments to make sure you're getting the protection you need. Professional fluoride treatments are applied as a gel, foam or varnish.
The fluoride used for these treatments has a higher strength than prescription or over-the-counter mouthwashes or toothpastes and should only be applied by a professional.
Fluoride supplements are best for children between 6 months and 16 years old who do not drink fluoridated water. They are available in liquid form for younger children and tablets for older children and teens. A dentist or pediatrician can also prescribe fluoride rinses and gels if your child needs a higher level of fluoride than supplements can provide. Either way you go, always make sure to carefully supervise your children when they use any fluoride product and keep fluoride supplements out of reach from children.
Proper oral health starts with a good plan of attack. This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Fluoride can be found in both fresh and sea water, in food e. In nature, it is found only in compound forms, such as the ore fluorspar calcium fluoride in soil and rock. To form sodium fluoride, hydrogen fluoride derived from fluorspar is neutralized by sodium hydroxide from brine, and dried into a powder.
Fluoride is currently the only active ingredient in toothpaste that is regulated by the FDA, per the Anticaries Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use, Final Monograph, to help prevent cavities and there are no other ingredients that can make a cavity prevention and enamel strengthening claim.
The FDA recognizes three types of fluoride: sodium monofluorophosphate, sodium fluoride, and stannous fluoride and regulates the levels at which they can be included in toothpaste or mouthwash formulations. We believe that toothpastes with fluoride are best to support one's oral health for strong and healthy teeth. We respect that not everyone wants fluoride in their oral care products, which is why we also offer natural toothpastes and mouthwashes without fluoride so consumers can choose what is best for their families and fits their values.
We feel it is important to offer individuals a choice and trust that they will work with their dental care professionals to establish an oral care regimen that is right for them. All fluoride toothpastes marketed in the US are required by the FDA to bear certain warning language that caution against accidental ingestion. Most of the concerns raised about fluoride have stemmed from controversy surrounding the fluoridation of municipal drinking water supplies.
The question of mass fluoridation of public water is an entirely separate issue from including fluoride in toothpaste. Fluoride toothpaste is applied directly to the surface of the teeth, delivers a benefit, and is immediately rinsed out.
As with any product, be sure to discontinue use if you experience discomfort or other indications that the product may not be appropriate for your individual body chemistry. However, saliva disrupts the attack as it coats your teeth and adds back calcium and phosphate to replace what had been stripped away.
When your saliva has fluoride in it from sources like toothpaste or water, your teeth are able to take it in. Once in your enamel, fluoride teams up with calcium and phosphate there to create the most powerful defense system your teeth can have to prevent cavities from forming: fluoroapatite.
There are many ways to get fluoride fighting for you. Fluoride is found in community water systems. Find out if your water supply contains fluoride. It is also found in some mouth rinses, and your dentist can apply it to your teeth in the dental office.
On the home front, be sure to brush your teeth twice a day with a toothpaste that has the ADA Seal.
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