Family Dentistry: Is Fluoride Treatment Important?

Minerals and vitamins are building blocks for our body's health and immune system. Calcium, for example, helps us grow strong bones and teeth, while potassium plays an important part in nerve function, muscle control and more. In the same way, our teeth benefit from fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral naturally found foods such as fish and certain kinds of tea.
Fluoride helps form the basis of developing teeth by strengthening the structure of enamel during infancy and early childhood. Fluoride also reduces the effects of acidic bacteria on our teeth and gums, preventing the formation of cavities.

So Why is Fluoride Important?

The benefits of fluoride have been extensively researched and documented since the early 1900's, when scientists discovered that a lack of fluoride in drinking water resulted in widespread tooth decay and gum disease. In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the first town in the U.S. to fluoridate its drinking water, and the results were astounding. Eleven years after the water was fluoridated, incidents of gum disease and tooth decay among children in the area had decreased by 60%! ¹

Modern Fluoride Treatment

Today, fluoride is an active ingredient in virtually every toothpaste on the market. According to the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, 200 million people receive fluoridated water, and over 13 million children take part in a school-based fluoride mouth-wash program. As a result, tooth decay has been in decline, and is now considered a preventable condition for most people.

Concentrated fluoride treatments are a standard part of good family dentistry, as they can be effectively used for both adults and for children’s developing teeth. Fluoride can be used in the treatment of gum disease, or for cracked teeth, untreated cavities, cases of dry mouth, or patients who have a lot of fillings or hard-to-clean dental work.² Fluoride treatment can be included in regular dental cleanings, and is found in over-the-counter mouthwashes, too. 

If you have any questions about how fluoride treatment can help members of your family enjoy better oral health, call our Petaluma, CA family dentist today for more information.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5014a1.htm

National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (¹) http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/oralhealth/topics/fluoride/thestoryoffluoridation.htm