Along with the reminder to always brush your teeth before bed, you may have grown up hearing about the importance of fluoride. But what is fluoride, and why is it important for dental health? Fluoride is a mineral naturally found in rocks, derived from the element fluorine. The discovery that fluoride helps fight tooth decay happened accidentally over 120 years ago, dating back to the early 20th century.
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A Brief History of Fluoride
In 1901, a dentist noticed that the water supply in Colorado Springs was leaving residents with stains on their teeth. Interestingly enough, those patients had less tooth decay than those without the stains. Almost 30 years later, testing by a chemist revealed high fluoride levels in the water. As a result, dentists began researching its effect on oral health.
Fluoride was first added to drinking water in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1945. A few years later, in the 1950s, both Proctor and Gamble and Crest released their first fluoride toothpaste, marketed to help prevent cavities in children. But it wasn’t until 1962 that the U.S. Public Health Services recommended fluoride in drinking water to prevent tooth decay. Today, most of the country has access to fluoride, with the CDC reporting in 2018 that 73% of the American population had access to fluoridated water. It is also found in toothpaste and other dental products to fight cavities and tooth decay.
Why Fluoride Is Important in Fighting Decay
Fluoride is popular with dentists because research has shown that it helps to remineralize teeth. Everyone has bacteria in their mouth. So if you have a tooth and eat sugar, bacteria will consume at least some of that sugar. In many cases, though, you don’t want to entirely remove all the bacteria in your mouth. Because then, your body will become populated with other bacteria. And good bacteria is better for your oral health than bad bacteria. So when the sugar is eaten by the bacteria, it produces an acid. The acid can then get onto the teeth and demineralize them. Demineralization is when pores or weak spots open in the teeth, making them soft instead of hard, which is how a cavity starts.
Fluoride interacts with other ions in saliva to harden the tooth and strengthen weak spots. For patients that we see starting to experience tooth decay in their X-rays, we recommend a fluoride toothpaste, rinse, or varnish to help harden those soft spots along with reducing the amount of sugar and acid in their diet. Using fluorinated products allows the soft spots to harden and remineralize, making them more resistant to decay in the future.
Dental Fluoride Treatments
At Cedarwood Dentistry, we offer dental fluoride treatments for patients at a higher risk for tooth decay. Children are naturally more susceptible to decay as they have difficulty brushing, are still developing, or have poor diets. Although some insurances only cover treatments for children once a year, we usually recommend it every six months for best prevention. Treatments are available for adults as well that are at higher risk for cavities, which may include elderly patients or patients with:
- Recent cavities or fillings
- High sugar diets
- Old dental work that may have left gaps
- Removable prosthetics
- Dry mouth
- Root Exposure
Because there are different types of treatments available, patients should ask their dentist about the guidelines regarding eating after. We use a varnish that allows patients to eat pretty soon after treatment, as long as they avoid anything crunchy or hot, so the fluoride doesn’t scratch or melt off the teeth. Many treatments also recommend not brushing for at least 12 hours, which might mean you have to wait to brush until the next morning. Because the fluoride needs to stick close to the teeth’s surface to interact with those ions in the saliva, following the guidelines ensures the most effective application to remineralize teeth.
Dental Cleanings & Fluoride Treatments at Cedarwood Dentistry
Along with dental cleanings, fluoride is an important part of oral health, one with deeper roots than you might have thought before. Schedule an appointment at Cedarwood Dentistry to learn if your teeth would benefit from an increase in fluoride for cavity prevention.
At Cedarwood Dentistry, we cultivate dental health through personalized care. We offer a variety of dental services, including family dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and emergency care in Midlothian, Virginia. Whether you last visited the dentist six months or six years ago, we can help bring your smile to life. Schedule your dentist appointment today by calling 804-379-9375.