Are you confused by all of the research on fluoride?



 
Are you confused by all of the research on fluoride? There is good and bad to everything, and there’s an appropriate amount of fluoride that's appropriate and then there’s too much. Read more to get the facts about fluoride and find out why this may be critical for your child’s teeth.
Fluoride is a mineral found in soils, plants, and water supplies in varying amounts. This helpful substance is found in oceans, lakes and other water sources. Fluoride helps your body fight off disease and, it also fights tooth decay.  This substance is already a natural part of your enamel and according to Edmond L. Truelove, D.D.S., chair of the Council on Scientific Affairs, "approximately 25 percent of children have or had cavities before entering kindergarten, so it’s important to provide guidance to caregivers on the appropriate use of fluoride toothpaste to help prevent children from developing cavities."
Too much of a good thing! We’ve heard it a thousand times.
There really can be too much.
Excessive fluoride can cause what is called fluorosis, a discoloration to the teeth. In order to help prevent this coloration when you are using toothpaste with fluoride for children under three use a smear, and if your child is over three, use a pea-size amount of toothpaste. This will help reduce the risks of too much fluoride. However, because fluoride is found in water and other sources, Dr. Cameron Fuller suggests that parents should be aware of how much fluoride is in other substances that their children maybe getting throughout the day. This rings especially true in younger children as they are unable to spit toothpaste completely out and may swallow it.  Keep in mind, a small amount of fluoride may help keep your child’s teeth healthy so hey can continue to do what they do best. Be Kids!

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 16, 2014 at 6:25 PM

    My dentist always asks me if I want fluoride after I visit. I know I used to take fluoride pills when I was younger. Having too much isn't a good thing either though! http://www.kidsfirstpd.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMay 19, 2014 at 10:01 AM

    I'm in Edina, and I'm looking for a pediatric dentist. It would be a lot easier on us if we found one before we needed their services. We tend to have periods where it's not needed.
    John Bond | http://www.childrensdent.com

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Your comment will be approved after it has been read by one of our staff.

Popular posts from this blog

What is a dental abscess?

Image
One of the most common conditions affecting children's teeth are dental abscesses.  Children with severe cavities often have teeth that abscess.  Abscess of lower left primary tooth.  NOTE the tissue swelling on the tooth. Radiograph of abscess on middle tooth.  Note the dark outline of the short root. Dental abscesses often start out as large cavities on the teeth. Once the cavity invades the pulp of the tooth the infection spreads to the bone. At that point the tooth is no longer salvageable. A dental abscess is a swelling of the tissue around an infected tooth. The following symptoms may result from a dental abscess.  Children can often present with facial swelling, fever,  altered eating habits, poor concentration, poor sleep patterns, breathing problems, and general malaise. The treatment that is always recommended is antibiotics and extraction. 
Read more

A gap between the teeth

Image
When your baby’s teeth first begin to come in and you notice that gap between their teeth when they smile, the family may coo that it’s cute. "However, it is very important that if your child has a gap in their teeth due to a maxillary frenum, or another reason, that it be corrected," says pediatric dentist Dr. Cameron Fuller. Your child’s education, speech and self-confidence is dependent upon it being corrected at an early age.             As your child gets older they are working on saying certain sounds. Children who are younger than five should be developing the ability to say all of the sounds. After five if these sounds are not solidified it will make it much more difficult for them to learn to correctly speak. “And by age seven if the sounds are not correct they run the risk of never being able to say them correctly,” says Dr. Cameron Fuller . By age five and six your child should be able to say their S’s and R’s correctly which are some of
Read more

Baby teeth: What you should know.

The importance of oral health for a child is paramount.  So many aspects of a child's development depend on a healthy oral environment. At pediatric dentistry of Redlands we specialize in children's oral health, especially prevention. Here is a quick read from CNN on " Baby's teeth: What you should Know ."  
Read more