You can get fluoride two ways.
Fluoride on baby teeth.
Fluoridated water protects baby teeth too thursday aug.
Topically from toothpaste and treatments at the dentist systemically in water and dietary supplements.
Fluoride treatments prevent cavities by strengthening the hard outer shell of teeth and they may even reverse very early cavities that have just started forming.
A fluoride treatment is quick and painless.
The most common side effect of fluoride is tooth discoloration.
Though it may look strange fluorosis is generally harmless and does not often affect permanent teeth.
Use a rice grain sized smear of toothpaste for your baby or toddler graduating to a pea sized dollop by age 3.
20 2020 fluoride in drinking water reduces the odds for severe cavities in baby teeth researchers from new zealand report.
Prevent cavities strengthen weakened tooth enamel reverse early tooth decay limit the growth of oral bacteria slow the loss of minerals from tooth enamel.
It s added to toothpaste and water supplies because fluoride can help.
Fluorosis is a condition that causes white streaks or other discoloration on the teeth.
Fluoride at an early age can penetrate a young tooth and make it stronger much like calcium strengthens.
Fluoride varnish can be applied to both baby teeth and adult teeth by a dentist.
The american academy of pediatric dentistry aapd recommends using cavity preventing fluoride toothpaste starting with baby s very first tooth rather than waiting until age 2 as was previously recommended.
The process involves painting a varnish containing high levels of fluoride onto the surface of the tooth every 6 months to prevent decay.
Fluorosis happens when a child ingests too.
Fluoride varnish treatment has been proven to reduce the prevalence of dental caries in baby teeth by 37 and permanent teeth by 43 according to this cochrane review.
Another mild risk of too much fluoride over time is the potential for fluorosis a condition marked by white spots on baby teeth.
It s particularly effective for children who are at high risk of decay and who are not exposed to fluoride from other sources.