General Dentistry: How Fluoride Protects Teeth From Cavities

When you have a general dentistry appointment, you may be told to use toothpaste with fluoride. However, you might not know what fluoride is. You may also be curious about how this substance works. To understand how fluoride works, it is important to look at the structure of your teeth. Keep reading to learn more about this mineral.

What is fluoride?

In general dentistry, fluoride is often used to protect the teeth from cavities. This is a mineral that is found in both the teeth and the bones. It is also found naturally in several places. These can include:

• Air
• Rocks
• Water
• Dirt
• Plants

Public water supplies add small amounts of fluoride in the United States and other countries. Water fluoridation has been used for several decades now. Children’s teeth have improved since then, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For 12-year-olds, the number of decaying teeth dropped by 68% between the 1960s and the 1990s. This was after fluoride was added to water and dental products.

How fluoride works

The outer coating of the teeth is the enamel. This is even stronger than bone. It is made out of phosphate and calcium. The saliva in the mouth also contains phosphate and calcium. The saliva bathes the teeth and helps to keep them strong.

However, when patients eat foods such as sweets or carbohydrates, bacteria in the mouth can begin to grow. The bacteria eat the carbohydrates that are in the food particles. The bacteria naturally produce acids that attack the enamel. This causes the minerals to be removed from the enamel. This leaves the teeth more vulnerable to cavities and decay.

However, this attack is disrupted by saliva. The saliva coats the teeth with important minerals, replacing what the acids have stripped off. Water and toothpaste have fluoride in them and the fluoride can enter the saliva. The teeth can take in the fluoride every time more saliva enters the mouth.

The fluoride works with the phosphate and calcium already there. This creates a defense against cavities. The process is known as remineralization, which means that minerals are deposited into damaged parts of the tooth. This can even reverse the process of tooth decay, as long as the decay is not too advanced.

When fluoride is topically applied to the teeth, the size of the enamel crystals will increase. Large crystals of enamel are less likely to be attacked by acids. This accelerated enamel growth helps the tooth remineralize.

Choose general dentistry today

Fluoride can help your teeth stay healthy, no matter what age you are. For children, fluoride can help with good teeth development. If you are concerned that your children are not getting enough of this mineral, consider a fluoride treatment. General dentistry often recommends this treatment for young children to help the teeth stay strong. Making an appointment at your dentist today will help you and your family have strong teeth for life.

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