There has been a lot of talk in the news lately about fluoride in our water. Fluoride is an important mineral that is found naturally in our environment and has significantly reduced the risk of decay in our society since its levels started being maintained in our water supplies. It is also found in many toothpastes and mouthwashes, and our office has a fluoride application we can provide to help patients who are at risk of developing decay.
There are two ways for us to be exposed to fluoride – systemic and topical. Topical is generally the best route, as it goes directly on the tooth. Examples of topical fluoride would be from toothpaste and the fluoride varnish we provide in the office. Systemic fluoride would be fluoride that you ingest either from a fluoride supplement or from drinking tap water. This type of fluoride is important for children as their teeth develop so that the fluoride can be incorporated into their teeth. Systemic fluoride for children helps promote life-long resistance to decay.
Our fluoride varnish is effective for 3-6 months and should be reapplied at each hygiene visit to consistently lower your risk of decay. Patients who benefit from fluoride varnish would be any one who has had a cavity in the last 3 years, anyone who has a filling that goes between your teeth or has a crown on any of your teeth.
When getting the fluoride varnish in our office, it is important to not brush or floss for at least 4 hours. We also recommend avoiding hard, hot, or sticky foods while the varnish is on your teeth. It is definitely worth the wait as it can lead to less dental work in the future.
We recommend prescription level fluoride toothpaste for anyone who has had decay in the last 3 years. This is because it takes about 3 years to change the flora, or bacteria types, in our mouth from one that is making decay to one that is healthy. For everyone else, over the counter toothpastes that contain fluoride is acceptable preventative care.
Fluoride has been a great help for dental health over the years and will help keep you cavity free. If you have any questions about how fluoride can effect your dental health, please feel free to visit us or give us a call at (517) 485-1900.
