Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps build strong teeth and prevent tooth decay.
For more than 70 years, most tap water in America has contained small amounts of fluoride to reduce tooth decay. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that fluoridated water has reduced tooth decay by about
Fluoride treatments may offer even more significant benefits for protecting teeth. These treatments may be beneficial for people at risk of tooth decay, but they may not be right for everyone.
In this article, we review the benefits and side effects of fluoride and fluoride therapy, as well as treatment recommendations.
Fluoride treatments are usually professional treatments containing a high concentration of fluoride that a dentist or hygienist will apply to a person’s teeth to improve health and reduce the risk of tooth decay. These in-office treatments may come in the form of a solution, gel, foam, or polish.
There are also some high-concentration fluoride treatments that people can use at home but only under the specific guidance of a dentist.
The fluoride dentists use in these treatments is similar to the fluoride in toothpaste. However, the treatment contains much higher doses and may provide faster benefits.
It has fluoride several benefits for teeth:
- It helps the body to better use minerals such as calcium and phosphate. The teeth reabsorb these minerals to repair weak tooth enamel.
- It bonds with tooth structure when teeth grow to strengthen tooth enamel, making them less vulnerable to bacteria and cavities for life.
- It slows down or even reverses the development of cavities by damaging the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
When taken together, these benefits may help:
- reduce the risk of tooth decay
- slowing down the development of cavities
- delay the need for expensive dental work
- prolongs the life of young teeth
- reduce the time and money a person has to spend at the dentist
By preventing tooth decay and slowing the growth of bacteria, fluoride treatment can also:
- prevention of gum disease
- reduce toothache
- prevention of premature tooth loss
Fluoride treatments can improve oral health, which, according to the
Some natural health advocates have expressed concern about fluoride in high doses. They also argue that fluoride is not safe for children and even that fluoridated water can be dangerous.
However, it is a myth that fluoride treatments or fluoridated water cause widespread harm, although some people may experience some side effects, such as:
Tooth discoloration
The most common side effect of fluoride is tooth discoloration.
Fluoride is a condition that causes white streaks or other discoloration on the teeth. Fluoridation occurs when a child ingests too much fluoride while their baby and adult teeth are developing below the gums. A child can develop fluorosis from birth to 8 years.
Discoloration is more common in young children who consume a lot of fluoride, either from taking fluoride supplements or swallowing toothpaste.
The
Experts recommend that even children who are too young to spit out toothpaste on their own should use fluoride toothpaste.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommend that parents or caregivers use a minimal amount of fluoride toothpaste as soon as the child’s first tooth erupts. This protects a child’s teeth from cavities, but does not put them at risk of fluoridation if the child accidentally swallows the toothpaste.
Allergies or irritations
A person may have an allergic reaction to fluoride or experience skin irritation, although these reactions are rare.
Toxic effects
Fluoride can be toxic if a person applies it incorrectly or in too high doses. However, this is unusual.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommend the use of professional fluoride varnish in children under 6 years of age. Fluoride varnish is the preferred choice for young children, as they tend to swallow foams or gels, which can cause nausea and vomiting.
The CDC and the ODA We recommend that frequent exposure to small amounts of fluoride each day is best for reducing the risk of tooth decay for all ages.
For most people, this means drinking tap water with optimal levels of fluoride and brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. For children and adults who may be at higher risk of tooth decay, fluoride treatments may provide additional benefits.
Children
Dental cavity is the most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend fluoride treatment for all children as soon as their teeth start to grow in to prevent tooth decay, pain and future dental infections.
Dentists or doctors should repeat the fluoride treatment every 3-6 monthsdepending on the child’s caries risk.
To reduce the risk of overexposure to fluoride, dentists also recommend the following:
- Caregivers should brush children’s teeth with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste to reduce tooth decay and minimize the risk of fluoridation. For children under 3, use no more than a dab or rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. For children ages 3-6, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
- Always supervise a child’s brushing to make sure they are using the right amount of toothpaste and try to get them to spit out more if they can.
- Children under 6 should not use fluoride rinses at home, such as mouthwash, as they may ingest too much fluoride.
Adults
Fluoride recommendations for adults vary. Different studies have investigated a range of concentrations, doses and treatment frequencies.
If a person is at moderate to high risk of developing tooth decay, professional fluoride treatment can help. Experts recommend that people at high risk for tooth decay receive professional fluoride treatments twice a year.
People should discuss the risks and benefits of fluoride treatment with their dentists. It is essential to consider all sources of fluoride, including fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash.
People who live in areas where the water does not contain fluoride may derive more significant benefits from regular fluoride treatments.
A substantial body of evidence from randomized controlled trials, the gold standard of scientific studies, has demonstrated the benefits of topical fluoride treatments for caries prevention.
A systematic review References that fluoride treatments, such as fluoride varnish, have a substantial effect in preventing caries in both primary and permanent teeth.
Fluoride treatments are safe for most people. Even when there are side effects, these effects are usually minimal compared to the benefits. Most of the damage is likely to come from ingesting very high amounts of fluoride.
This does not mean that all fluoride treatments are safe for all people at all times. People with tooth decay or at risk of tooth decay should discuss their concerns with a dentist they trust.
