If your community tap water is not fluoridated, you can supplement with fluoride tablets, which require a prescription. However, topical fluoride is safer and gets right to the teeth. The dentist can also apply a fluoride treatment at regular dental visits. In general, fluoride is not essential for children’s tooth development, and too much fluoride is more of a problem than too little.
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Dental medications treat diseases, pain and infections of the oral cavity. There are also medications used to treat patient anxiety related to routine trips to the dentist's office.
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 4 AnswersSodium fluoride is a naturally-occurring chemical compound which is added to toothpaste and sometimes to community water supplies. Countless scientific studies have shown fluoride to be very safe and effective at helping to prevent tooth decay (cavities).
Too much fluoride in very young children (whose teeth are still developing) can lead to subtle mottling or staining of tooth enamel. To reduce this risk, parents should not use fluoridated toothpaste until they are sure that their children can spit out toothpaste after brushing instead of swallowing it. For children old enough to spit after brushing, use only a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste.
By preventing cavities, it helps reduce the incidence of one of the most common diseases in children and reduces the pain associated with untreated cavities and the cost of treating them. The U.S. Public Health Service, through its Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called community water fluoridation one of the 10 most important public health measures of the 20th Century.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredSee All 3 AnswersSide effects from sodium fluoride may include gastrointestinal upset, rash, a soapy or salty taste in your mouth, increased saliva and possibly other symptoms. If young children take too much sodium fluoride, they may experience dental fluorosis, permanent white and/or brown stains on their teeth. To minimize the risk of side effects, never swallow fluoridated toothpaste or mouth rinse, and take sodium fluoride supplements only according to your dentist's or doctor's directions. Call your doctor at the first sign of any of these side effects. -
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 4 AnswersFluoride is nature’s cavity fighter, helping repair the early stages of tooth decay even before the decay can be seen. Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally. Research shows that fluoride helps prevent cavities in children and adults by making teeth more resistant to the acid attacks that cause cavities. Sodium fluoride is a type of fluoride that is used in a number of products, including supplements, gels, toothpastes and rinses.
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredSee All 3 AnswersChances are good that you'd benefit from getting both systemic fluoride (the kind in drinking water) and topical fluoride (the kind in toothpastes, mouthwashes and professional fluoride treatments) because topical and systemic fluoride tackle the problem of tooth decay in different ways.
Let's start with systemic fluoride in its most common form -- fluoridated water. If a child whose permanent teeth are still forming drinks fluoridated water, the fluoride will make it into her bloodstream and eventually be incorporated into the teeth. It becomes part of the enamel and provides life-long protection from the inside out. That can only happen while the teeth are developing, though -- once they've popped through the gums, they're fully "cooked." But even after that, fluoride from drinking water can help because it becomes part of your saliva, which gives your teeth a constant protective bath.
What about topical fluoride? If you brush with fluoride toothpaste, use a fluoride rinse or get a fluoride treatment at the dentist's office, a little bit of the fluoride will be absorbed by the enamel, reducing the risk for cavities.
Follow your dentist's directions for using topical fluoride to maximize your defense against tooth decay. Fluoride has been responsible for a precipitous drop in the number of cavities, so you should take advantage of it! -
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 4 AnswersTopical fluorides strengthen teeth already present in the mouth. Topical fluoride is present in toothpaste and mouthrinses. Fluoride on the outer surfaces of the tooth helps make them more decay-resistent.
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 5 Answers
Fluoride is safe for all ages, including children. Topical fluoride strengthens teeth already present in the mouth. Topical fluoride is present in toothpaste and mouthrinses. Fluoride on the outer surfaces of the tooth helps make them more decay-resistant. It is recommended the children brush with toothpaste with fluoride twice a day.
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredSee All 3 AnswersYou may already be using topical fluoride without realizing it. "Topical" fluoride just means that you're applying the fluoride, instead of eating or drinking it -- you use topical fluoride when you use a fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash. It protects your teeth from the outside in, by strengthening the enamel and making it more resistant to the acids that can cause cavities. If you are very prone to tooth decay, your dentist may also recommend having topical fluoride applied to your teeth two to four times a year in the dental office. He or she will apply a fluoride varnish or gel to your teeth, let it sit for four minutes or so and then rinse it away. Your dentist may also give you a topical gel to use at home for several weeks.
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredSee All 3 AnswersThe first rule in using a fluoride rinse? Spit, don't swallow. Read the label carefully before you use it. Generally, you'll brush your teeth first with a fluoride toothpaste and then swish the rinse around in your mouth for a minute or so before you spit it out. That one-minute swish is enough to add an extra layer of protective fluoride to the surface of your teeth, which can make a big difference in your risk for tooth decay.
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 4 Answers
Systemic fluoride is fluoride that you ingest, and one common method is through fluoridated water. Fluoride has been proven safe and effective for all ages. In fact, it is especially important for children, when teeth are developing.