Dental fluoride treatment is one of the most effective ways to prevent tooth decay and maintain excellent dental health in children. Fluoride treatments are both safe and effective in decreasing the prevalence of cavities in children, by 95% specifically, when combined with dental sealants. Making the tooth more impervious to acid attacks caused by sugars and plaque bacteria in the mouth, fluoride acts as a shield for the outer enamel layer of the teeth and actually has the ability to reverse early dental decay in some cases.
Apart from professionally applied Fluoride varnish, Fluoride mouthwash and toothpaste might be recommended to prevent caries or treat initial caries. In areas where there is no water Fluoridation, Fluoride supplements may be recommended.
What Exactly Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally existing mineral found in water, many foods, within the earth’s crust, and widely throughout nature. Fluoride is often added to tap water supplies for drinking and to toothpastes for children and adults.
Benefits of Dental Fluoride Treatments For Children
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), professionally applied topical fluoride treatments are effective in decreasing dental decay in children as well, especially those in a high risk category for decay. Having fluoride professionally applied during a pediatric dental visit ensures your child’s teeth have received an adequate and protective amount of fluoride to successfully obstruct acidic breakdown of the enamel layer of the teeth.
In fact, fluoride exposure and intake becomes particularly important to a child’s dental development starting from the age of six months through sixteen years. This is the span of time when all of the baby and permanent teeth erupt. (Fluoride is beneficial for adults too.)