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Fluoride is generally called nature’s cavity fighter and has been called so for a good reason. It is a naturally occurring mineral that helps in the prevention of cavities in children as well as in adults. Fluoride makes the outer surface of your teeth, which is also called enamel to become more resistant to acid attacks which is the main reason for tooth decay.

How Does Fluoride Protect Your Teeth?

Fluoride can be beneficial for both children and adults. Want to know how?

Before teething, that is, before the teeth break through the gums, the fluoride that is absorbed from foods, beverages, and other dietary supplements makes your tooth enamel stronger. When your tooth enamel, the hard surface of the tooth, is stronger, it is easier to fight tooth decay.

Once the teeth have erupted, fluoride helps reverse the early onset of tooth decay by remineralizing lost tooth enamel. While brushing your teeth, the fluoride in the toothpaste gets applied to the surface of your teeth. Fluoride from other dental products also gets applied to the surface of your teeth.

Additionally, the fluoride you get from foods and beverages essentially becomes a part of your saliva. It continues to bathe your teeth with little amounts of fluoride, which helps in rebuilding your weakened tooth enamel.

Where is Fluoride Available?

Drinking water has fluoride in it. It is naturally found in all water sources like rivers, lakes, wells, and even in the oceans. For more than 70 years, fluoride has been added to public water supplies to bring fluoride levels to the required amount to help in the prevention of tooth decay.

Community water fluoridation is similar to drinking milk fortified with Vitamin D. Before when water fluoridation did not exist, children used to get many dental cavities. Since it reduces tooth decay, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proclaims community water fluoridation as one of the ten greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. Various research studies prove that fluoridation prevents 25% of tooth decay in children and adults, even with the presence of fluoride available from other sources like toothpaste. As of today, 75% of the US population is provided with fluoridated community water supply systems.

If your teeth are particularly prone to form cavities, your dentist can apply fluoride in a gel, foam, or a rinse form to your teeth directly on your next visit.

Modesto Kidz dental provides expert dental treatments and guidance to help take care of your little one’s dental health. For more details and appointments, call us at (209) 578-3131, book online or, visit us at Bldg B, 2801 Coffee Rd, Modesto, CA 95355.