Fluoride – What’s the deal?
We’re sure you’ve seen enough toothpaste adverts and listened to us lot banging on about fluoride to know it has a role in fighting tooth decay.
But what exactly is fluoride, and is it really that important in maintaining healthy teeth?
Let us explain what fluoride is, how it works, and clear up some myths along the way.
Myth #1 – ‘I use fluoride toothpaste, so I won’t get tooth decay’
Fluoride’s good, but it ain’t a miracle worker! It needs a bit of input from us.
When we eat sugary foods, the sugar combines with any plaque on our teeth and produces acid, which then gets to work on dissolving the enamel on our teeth. If this happens often enough, the acid works its way through the outer surface and into the softer dentine inside the tooth. A cavity is born.
Fluoride acts to strengthen teeth, reduce the activity of bacteria in plaque (yuk!), and help the teeth recover from acid attacks when we eat.
So, reducing the amount and frequency of sugary foods and drinks, as well as using fluoride toothpaste, is the key to preventing decay.
Myth #2 – ‘Fluoride is harmful’
Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance, found in seawater, freshwater, soil, tea, coffee, potatoes…… the list goes on. We all consume small doses of it on a daily basis, with no ill effects. That said, you can have too much of a good thing. Children who consume higher levels of fluoride over a long period (usually by swallowing toothpaste during brushing) are at higher risk of developing dental fluorosis, which can give teeth a spotted or striped appearance. This can be avoided by using small amounts of age-appropriate toothpaste for your children. Otherwise, fluoride is considered a safe and effective way of preventing tooth decay.
Myth #3 – ‘Our water supply is fluoridated, surely we don’t need fluoride in toothpaste as well’
Well, that depends on where you live. Here in Northern Ireland our water supply is not fluoridated at all, but skip across the border to the Republic of Ireland and you’ll find water fluoridation is mandatory.
It’s no coincidence that our wee country has the highest rate of tooth decay in the UK, with a whopping 40% of our 5-year-olds experiencing cavities, and research carried out by Queen’s University Belfast found that our teenagers decay levels are amongst the worst in Europe.
The bottom line…..
Including fluoride in our oral care is a really important part of reducing our risk of tooth decay, as well as a few simple steps we can take:
Brush twice daily with a toothpaste that containing between 1350-1500ppm fluoride for adults. (For tips of caring for kids teeth click here)
Clean between your teeth once a day with floss or interdental brushes
Reduce the number of times you consume sugary foods or drinks during the day to reduce the number of acid attacks on your teeth
Come and see us regularly. We can check your teeth to catch any signs of decay when they’re small and give you hints and tips on keeping your teeth healthy. Prevention really is the way forward.