Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in soil, water, and air that has historically been shown to prevent cavities and overall tooth decay. Fluoride’s benefits are enjoyed by many adults and children alike. Fluoride works by strengthening the enamel or the hard outer surface of our teeth.
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), there are a variety of sources that we get fluoride from each day including community-sourced water, toothpaste, other oral care products, as well as certain foods and beverages. In fact, for the past several decades, fluoride has been added to community water supplies to improve our oral health as a society. Around this time, many companies started including fluoride as an ingredient in many of their oral care products, such as toothpaste and mouth rinse.
While you can get small doses of fluoride through these sources, patients usually get even more benefits from the fluoride varnish they receive after a dental cleaning. When your child comes into Medical Center Children’s Dental, Dr. Casey can apply a fluoride varnish or gel to their teeth. This concentrated fluoride treatment drastically reduces the child’s chances of developing a cavity both in the near future and long term.
What Does The ADA Say About Fluoride?
It is true that for about 50 years the American Dental Association (ADA) had advised that parents not give fluoride to their children under the age of 2 years old. However, with the number of American children developing cavities before entering kindergarten the ADA became determined to decrease the occurrence of this chronic disease.
They conducted a series of 17 scientific-based studies that determined that a small smear of fluoride toothpaste twice per day is a viable solution to these dental cavities with no harmful effects on children under the age of 2 years. The concern shown by the American Dental Association was also driven by the fact that tooth decay can ultimately lead to Periodontal Disease. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, also plays a part in the effects of the Oral Systemic Connection as well.
Cavities, also known as dental caries, are the most common chronic disease amongst American children. It is estimated that approximately 25 percent of American children develop at least one or more cavities before they are 5 years old. This is the reason that the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) has recommended the use of a small smear of fluoride toothpaste for our children under the age of 2 for years and the American Dental Association agrees too.
Does The Amount of Fluoride Matter?
The truth is that brushing your child’s teeth without fluoride toothpaste can lead to severe cavities in baby teeth, a problem dentists are currently seeing an increase in across the nation. For some of these pediatric patients, their cavities are only treatable by anesthetizing the child so the dentist can adequately remove the present tooth decay and clean their teeth. However, some parents don't know how much toothpaste they should be using based on their child's age. Here are the toothpaste recommendations for youth as dictated by the American Dental Association (ADA)...
- Under 2 yr: Small smear of toothpaste
- 2 - 6 yrs: Small rice-sized to the pea-sized dot of toothpaste
- 6 yrs and older: A normal-sized serving of toothpaste
Knowing how much toothpaste is the right amount is important to ensure their teeth are cared for properly. It is also important to know so that your child does not consume too much Fluoride, this is especially important for young children. At Medical Center Children's Dentistry, we assist parents each and every day to ensure that their children are receiving the best dental care possible. This includes at home too!
Is There Such Thing As "Too Much"?
One of the concerns that we hear from our patients’ parents are surrounding the possibility of fluorosis. This is a medical condition that can occur when too much fluoride is ingested by a child. It is known to cause white, chalky streaks on their teeth. While this is not a common condition, it is the reason that pediatric dentists have gradually increased the recommended toothpaste use as children get older.
Fluorosis is a cosmetic medical condition that affects the teeth of those that were overexposed to fluoride during the first eight years of life. This is the critical time when your child's permanent teeth are forming. Once these teeth affected by fluorosis come in, they may appear mildly discolored. No matter how much your child might brush and floss, these fluorosis stains do not go away. Many well-known sources of fluoride may contribute to overexposure, including fluoridated toothpaste and mouth rinse, which young children may swallow
The American Dental Association (ADA) concluded that using a smear the size of a grain of rice to a small pea would be enough to protect a child against cavities. Yet it is still a small enough amount to avoid the risk of the child ingesting too much fluoride! This medically based conclusion was a result of years of extensive analysis and scientific research by the American Dental Association (ADA) and dental schools around the United States.
How Can Parents Protect Their Children?
The most critical point for parents is that they need to be constantly watching, overseeing, and teaching their children how to care for their teeth! This isn't just simply brushing and flossing, this also means teaching them to spit out all of the excess toothpaste or mouth rinse each time. While the quantity of Fluoride in a recommended amount of toothpaste is not harmful, accidentally consumption of more than the recommended amount can be. This is also why toothpaste should be stored out of reach of young children when not in use.
Organizations like the American Dental Association (ADA) believe that children do not have the capacity to properly brush their teeth by themselves until they have the dexterity to tie their shoes. This is why it is suggested that parents assist their children with brushing their teeth until they prove they can adequately take on the responsibility alone. Each child is unique, learning and growing at their own pace. Therefore, there is no "right" age for mastering this vital hygiene habit. We recommend assisting your child, allowing them to gain more responsibility and control over time.
Children pay a lot of attention to the adults around them, as well as their habits and behaviors. Taking care of your own oral health by practicing good oral hygiene is a great way to show your children the proper way to care for teeth. You may be surprised just how much children pick up from watching their parents' habits. There are also many unique products on the market that make oral care routines more fun for the whole family.
At Medical Center Children's Dentistry, we believe that fluoride is a vital part of good, lifelong oral health. This is why we focus on teaching parents and children the best tips and tricks to achieving a solid oral health routine. Our oral health plays and vital role in our overall health through the Oral Systemic Connection, the more consistent we are in our healthcare, the more healthy we will be. If you are interested in learning more about fluoride in office-based dental care or over-the-counter oral health products, please feel free to reach out to our office.
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