News

Fluoride

Since the 1950’s fluoride has been held in high regard by the American Dental Association (ADA) as an important mineral that strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent tooth decay. Fluoride can be found in toothpastes, over-the-counter mouth rinses, drinking water, topical gels, prescription rinses, and occurs naturally in many of the foods we eat.

As many as 10,000 communities fluoridate their drinking water supply so the general public can benefit from fluoride. Fluoride is relatively inexpensive and very effective in repairing early decay (even before damage is visible) and strengthening the tooth structure by “remineralization”. According to the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), children have less tooth decay in their primary (baby) and permanent teeth than they did in the early 1970’s. The journal reports that among children between the ages of six and 18 years, the percentage of decayed permanent teeth decreased by 57.2% over a 20-year period. In addition, children between the ages of two and ten years experienced a drop of nearly 40% in diseased or decayed primary teeth.

If fluoride is consumed in excessively high amounts, “fluorosis” can occur. Fluorosis is a discoloring or defect of the tooth enamel and occurs when children get too much fluoride during the years of tooth development. You can avoid this by making sure your child does not swallow fluoride toothpastes, fluoride mouth rinses, or isn’t taking too much of a fluoride supplement that has been prescribed by your doctor or dentist.

Due to the benefits of fluoride, most insurance companies pay for two topical fluoride applications per year for children up to the age of 16 (fluoride is usually covered at 100%, but rates do vary depending on your insurance plan). A topical fluoride gel is administered for children during their routine check-up visits. Your child will be able to pick from a variety of “kid-friendly“ flavors such as grape, watermelon, bubble gum, etc. The fluoride gel is then applied to foam trays and placed in the mouth for one minute. After the minute is up, the child is able to spit out the excess but is not allowed to eat or drink for 30 minutes after the procedure. If you have any questions about fluoride, please discuss your concerns with Dr. Hopgood or the hygienist.

If you would like to see if your community participates in fluoridating the water supply you can find out by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov.

Advanced Dental Concepts
Richard D. Hopgood D.M.D., M.A.G.D.
296 Lowell Street
Andover, MA 01810
Telephone: 978-475-2431
Email: info@andoverdmd.com