If
you don't have kids, you may not think about fluoride much. However,
while children need plenty of fluoride to help build healthy teeth,
adults need it to keep their teeth strong. If you want to better
protect your teeth and oral health, check out these facts about
fluoride and how it can help you.
Fluoride
is a natural mineral that usually produces no side effects. It is so
common that it is found in most soils, waters and even some foods. It
is also often added to dental cleaning products, such as toothpaste.
If
you consume too much fluoride, you may develop dental or skeletal
fluorosis. Dental fluorosis is harmless but causes tooth
discoloration. Skeletal fluorosis can lead to hardened bones,
increased risk of fractures and limited mobility.
While
water naturally contains fluoride, these natural amounts aren’t
usually enough to benefit your teeth. For this reason, many cities
add fluoride to the drinking water. In fact, studies have shown that
fluoridated water can reduce tooth decay by 20
to 40 percent.
Not only will that save you pain, but it will also save you money on
future dental procedures.
If
your city doesn't add fluoride to the drinking water, you use a
drinking well, or you only drink bottled water, talk to your dentist
about if you need to add fluoride to your diet some other way. If you
already take excellent care of your teeth, you may not need extra
fluoride. If your teeth are showing signs of enamel erosion, the
dentist may prescribe a fluoride tooth gel.
Naturally,
fluoride can be found in drinking water and oral products, but it may
be hiding in other foods and beverages. Most processed beverages and
foods contain some fluoride because they were made with fluorinated
water.
Tea
drinks may also provide fluoride. Not only were they likely made with
fluorinated water, but the tea leaves absorb fluoride from the soil.
Other sources of fluoride include fluorinated prescriptions, and food
made with Teflon pans.
As
teeth develop, they need plenty of fluoride to promote strong,
healthy enamel. This is important because once your teeth are fully
formed, you can't grow new enamel. Children with healthy enamel are
less likely to experience tooth decay. Even major decay on primary
teeth can affect the future health of permanent teeth.
As
an adult, fluoride is still important. Basically, everything you eat
leaves food for bacteria. The bacteria's byproduct is an acidic
substance that easily destroys enamel. Using fluoride helps
re-strengthen those weak spots — through a process called
remineralization — from bacteria acid.
Even
if you don't suffer from much oral decay, you may need extra fluoride
because of other oral complications that promote decay. For example,
many people suffer from dry mouth because of medications. Dry mouth
alone increase the risk of decay by reducing saliva flow. Gum disease
is another common reason to ensure you have enough fluoride.
Even
if your mouth is healthy now, but you have a history of lots of decay
or currently have a lot of crowns or bridges, your teeth may be more
prone to decay because of missing or weak enamel. Adding fluoride
helps keep this material strong.
Fluoride
can be dangerous in high amounts, but for the most part, it is a
beneficial mineral that can protect teeth. If you would like to know
more about fluoride, or you need to request dental services, contact
us at
Family Dental Care of Wilmington today.
