Fluoride
Pediatric Fluoride Dental Care in Fort Collins, CO
Fluoride oral care to support your kids’ preventative care at Rockies Kids DDS
Schedule an AppointmentStrengthen enamel
Prevent cavities and decay
Smile brighter
Should I approve fluoride treatments for my kids?
No matter how well you help your kids brush and floss, and no matter how vigorously you guard your kids’ teeth against sugars and other decay causing foods and beverages, at the end of the day there is little we can do to guard against the inevitable decay acids essential to our diet cause; only certain minerals can fully protect teeth to prevent cavities and decay.
That’s where fluoride comes in. It’s one of the very best and easiest ways to guard against those damaging acids. Fluoride builds up key minerals to protect teeth both inside and out. At Kids Pediatric Dentistry of the Rockies, we provide regular fluoride treatments to ensure your child’s teeth are covered in the healthy minerals they need!
The Benefits of Fluoride
If you’re like most of our clients, you’ve probably heard a lot of opinions about fluoride and its effectiveness. We highly recommend fluoride treatment for three key reasons:
Remineralize Tooth Enamel
Fluoride bonds with teeth and attracts the calcium and phosphate ions to restore minerals which have been lost and repair developing weak spots
Protect Inside As Well As Out
Tooth rot gets into teeth from external weaknesses. Fluoride not only protects your child’s enamel but inhibits bacterial metabolism inside the tooth.
AAP/AAPD Recommended
The American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend fluoride as safe and highly effective in reducing cavities.
Does fluoride actually work?
If you’re still on the fence about fluoride and its effectiveness, we’ve put together a short guide on what fluoride is and why it’s so effective and beneficial.
Why do we even need fluoride?
Our tooth enamel is mostly made from calcium and phosphate ions. These elements combine to form hydroxyapatite, strong crystals which make up about 95% of our enamel.
However, acids created by the bacteria in plaque and the acids in our daily diets slowly strip away the calcium and phosphate ions in enamel over time, weakening the surface of the tooth. This process is called demineralization. Over time, these weak spots in the enamel become bigger as acids eat through enamel to the inner tooth, causing decay and cavities.
The best and safest way to combat these acids is with fluoride!
How does fluoride combat acids?
Fluoride is attracted to the tooth’s surface and bonds with its minerals. It also attracts those hydroxyapatite crystals which are found in our saliva to restore any minerals which have been lost. Fluoride ions also join with calcium and phosphate to form fluorapatite crystals, which are larger and stronger than hydroxyapatite crystals. These new crystals are more resistant to acids.
Through this process, fluoride combats decay on four key levels:
- Fluoride interferes with bacterial adherence to teeth. This means that it makes it difficult for bacteria to attack enamel in the first place.
- Fluoride inhibits tooth demineralization. This means that it slows down the process of enamel losing its mineralization.
- Fluoride enhances remineralization. This means that it begins to repair any weak spots which might have begun to form in the enamel.
- Fluoride is incorporated into the tooth. This means that the enamel is strengthened and more resistant to future demineralization.
Does fluoride really make that much of a difference?
According to the AAP, dental cavities are the most chronic childhood disease, and can result in oral and other health problems into adulthood when not treated. However, it’s even better to prevent them in the first place.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring element, and has shown to prevent tooth decay by as much as 50-70%. It’s absolutely worth using fluoride to protect your kids’ teeth and health.
Is fluoride completely safe?
As with almost every medical treatment, fluoride should be used at appropriate levels. With little or no fluoride, the teeth aren’t strengthened to help them resist cavities. Excessive fluoride ingestion by young children can lead to dental fluorosis, which is typically a chalky white discoloration (brown in advanced cases) of the permanent teeth. It’s important to follow your pediatric dentist’s instructions on suggested fluoride use.
Refer to the chart below for common recommendations by the AAP:
Want to know more? We’d love to discuss your options with you! Contact us today at (970) 829-8258
