What is Fluoride and do I need it?

Oral cavity is a great place for certain species of bacteria like Streptococcus mutans, that thrive in dark damp places. These species of bacteria survive by digesting the sugar in the environment and producing lactic acid. The acid lowers pH of the oral cavity.

Enemal, the outer layer of the tooth. is mostly made up of Calcium and phosphate, which is one of the most common building blocks in your body. As your mouth gets more acidic, the acid pulls the phosphate away from the tooth, dissolving the bond between the two chemicals and causing breakdown of enamel and this process is called demineralization. 

Extensive studies have been done on how fluoride prevents cavities from forming and how safe it is.

Mechanism

• On dimerialized tooth structure, Calcium and phosphate bond is broken. Fluoride and interact with phosphate and remineralize the tooth. 
• This chemical compound is much more resistant to changes in acidity and prevents demineralization from progressing on some of the cavities. 

It is important to FDA and ADA approved products containing fluoride in order to minimize cavity. 

In 1930s, researchers found that populations that lived in areas with water that naturally contain fluoride had lower incidents of fluoride.

Fluoride has been added to tap water since 1950s. 

There has been extensive studies that are shown comparing incidences of cavities in communities that fluoridate water and those who do not. 

If the level of consumption is in the range acceptable by ADA and FDA, fluoride has proven to be effective way to prevent dental problems.

Parents should, however, make sure that young children do not ingest dental products that are meant to be consumed such as toothpaste or mouth rinse. 

• Use children’s toothpaste with lower fluoride concentration but this is one of the most common way of excessive consumption of fluoride.
• Children under 6 should not be using mouth rinses to prevent them from swallowing the dental product