Gum disease and dental caries are the two most prevalent dental diseases in our country. Periodontal disease affects nearly 90–95% of the population, while dental caries affects about 60–80% of our children. These are caused by poor oral hygiene.
Today, apart from maintaining oral hygiene and having a non–cariogenic diet (caries inducing), other preventive measures are available for treatment which include:
Use of Fluorides
Systemic fluorides are available in the form of fluoridated water, and in natural foods like tea, apples and wheat. Topical application of fluorides is available as: Fluoride mouthwashes eg. Colgate Fluorigard.
Which are applied to the child’s teeth (milk/permanent) at the ages of 3, 6, 10 and 12 years. This is a procedure that is carried out in the dental office and takes about 15 minutes per arch. It can cost the patients INR 1000 to INR 1500.
Most commercially available toothpastes now contain fluorides.
- Fluoride is safe and necessary, but only at appropriate levels.
- Fluoride works two ways: systemically, meaning it strengthens teeth internally, under the gums in the jawbone. Externally, fluoride strengthens tooth enamel on the surface of the teeth. Children between 6 months and age 16 should take in fluoride every day.
- Water fluoridation is the safest and most cost–effective way to prevent tooth decay.
- Two of the most common sources of fluoride are tap water and fluoridated toothpaste. Fluoride occurs naturally in some water, but in most major municipalities it is added to the water to help prevent tooth decay.
- Pediatric dentists recommend that children who regularly drink bottled water, well water, or unfluoridated tap water get fluoride in some other way. Fluoride vitamins, drops, and tablets are good examples of fluoride supplements.
- Most bottled water brands process water by distilled or reverse–osmosis systems that remove fluoride along with contaminants. Some types of bottled water add fluoride to the final product and are safe for children of all ages.