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Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride treatments are one component of the arsenal your dentist will recommend to protect against tooth decay. Mineral treatments with fluoride have been shown to reduce the risk of tooth decay, and they can help to repair damaged teeth when cavities are still in the microscopic stage.
Most brands of toothpaste and mouthwash contain fluoride in topical form. It can also be ingested in a supplemental tablet form or through fluoridated drinking water. Stronger concentrations of topical fluoride treatments can be administered at your dentist’s office.
There are some known risks to the systemic use of fluoridation, and fluoridated water supplies remain a controversial topic.
Need for Treatment
The American Dental Association recommends fluoride treatments for anyone at a higher risk of developing dental caries (tooth decay). This risk group includes people with poor dental hygiene, those who lack regular dental care, and those with active caries or with caries-causing bacteria in their mouths. Other people who may need fluoride treatments include those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse and patients undergoing head and neck radiation therapy.
Benefits
Fluoride treatments are one of the quicker dental procedures you can undergo. They’re generally painless and take only about 30 minutes to complete. Fluoride acts on the enamel of the teeth and strengthens them through a chemical process. The crystals in the enamel become larger and less soluble to acidity in foods. Cavities cause demineralization of the tooth enamel, and fluoride works to counteract this. It also decreases the amount of acid produced by plaque.
Administration Methods
Fluoride can be administered by a topical solution in the dentist’s office. It typically comes in a gel, paste or other solution that your dentist will apply directly to the surface of the teeth. It can also be delivered through regular brushing with fluoridated toothpaste and using a fluoride mouthwash. One systemic treatment involves fluoridation of city drinking water supplies. The other systemic method is to take dietary supplements that contain fluoride.
Children and Fluoride
Children under the age of 6 or 7 should be monitored when brushing their teeth or using mouthwash. Children’s toothpaste comes with lower concentrated levels of fluoride, but it still should not be ingested. Use a dab of toothpaste—about the size of a pea—on your child’s toothbrush and be sure to help him brush and rinse his mouth out afterward.
In-Office Procedure
Swallowing fluoride is generally unhealthy, so the treatment you receive at the dentist’s office is different from what you’ll receive through brushing or using mouthwash. The treatment will involve a much higher concentration of fluoride. It’s sort of like giving a large boost to you regular fluoride regimen. The treatment usually comes in the form of a gel, foam or another type of solution.
The dentist will apply the solution to the surface of your teeth with a cotton swab. It may feel cold on the surface of the teeth, but otherwise, it’s painless. It takes about half an hour for the teeth to absorb the fluoride. You’ll need to avoid rinsing your mouth or eating anything during that time, to allow the treatment to work. Once a sufficient amount of time has passed, your dentist will have you rinse your mouth. The solution should not be swallowed.
Costs of Treatment
Fluoride treatments usually run between $35 and $55, depending on which part of the country you live in, your individual dentist’s fees and other factors. Check with your health insurance company to see if a fluoride treatment is a covered procedure. Certain neighborhoods with public clinics may offer treatments to children for free, or at a reduced cost, to reduce the incidence of cavities and tooth decay in low-income areas.
Advantages
The benefits of a fluoride treatment will typically last for several months. Depending on the severity of any issues with your teeth, your dentist may recommend treatment once every 3, 6 or 12 months. Fluoride tends to strengthen the enamel of the teeth, allowing them to withstand hot and cold temperatures better. Teeth with weakened enamel can crack or break under bite pressure, and the risk for cavities is usually increased without the use of fluoride.
Alternatives
Some people may opt to go without using fluoridated toothpaste or mouthwash, especially if they live in areas with already high concentrations of fluoride in the drinking water supply (see "Risks"). A small number of brand name toothpastes are made without fluoride in them. Individuals can also use baking soda and sea salt to make a powdered solution to brush their teeth.
Risks
There are a number of documented risks to using fluoride for the treatment of tooth decay, especially with higher concentrations of fluoride. Fluoride occurs naturally in most water supplies, but it is toxic when ingested in large amounts. Some of the risks include the following.
Sometimes referred to as mottling, this appears as small white spots on the teeth. It happens when people go through long-term exposure to fluoride in drinking water supplies. In more severe cases, it can lead to greater discoloration of the teeth and even to pits in their surfaces. The condition occurs only in children under the age of 8 and affects their baby teeth. Once their adult teeth grow in, the condition no longer occurs. According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost a third of all children in America show signs of enamel fluorosis, due to the amounts of fluoride in beverages and processed foods combined with fluoridated water.
Every tube of toothpaste has a poison warning label on it. The body can safely tolerate a dose of fluoride that is less than 1 mg per kilogram of body weight. If for some reason a person were to receive a dose of 5 mg per kilogram of body weight, he should be taken to the hospital immediately for emergency treatment. If a dose of fluoride exceeds 32 mg per kilogram of body weight, the person is likely to die. For perspective, a tube of children’s toothpaste contains about twice as much fluoride as needed to cause death in a 2-year-old. If your child ingests a large amount of toothpaste, he should be rushed to the hospital.
Fluoride builds up in your bones over time, and excess amounts can potentially lead to skeletal fluorisis. Symptoms of the condition include joint stiffness and pain.
Several studies have found a link between increased use of fluoride and an increase in bone fractures. The risk is increased when moderately high levels of fluoride exist in drinking water supplies.
Research into the link between bone cancers and fluoride has been mixed. However, because of the tendency of fluoride to accumulate in the bones, many experts believe it is a direct source of increased incidents of bone cancer. Research in this area is ongoing.
Controversy
Most of the controversy surrounding the use of fluoride pertains to its systemic delivery through drinking water. Some cities have rejected fluoridation programs in municipal drinking water supplies because of the known risks associated with them. For example, the mandated fluoridation of drinking water in all California cities was an unfunded mandate, and since its passage, a number of cities have passed ordinances forbidding the use of fluoride in the water supplies. Council members in some California cities have noted that the amount of fluoride the state was mandating in drinking water supplies was higher than the amount that a health professional could ethically prescribe to a child under the age of 6.
Post-Treatment Care
Someone who undergoes a fluoride treatment at the dentist’s office requires little aftercare other than regular brushing and flossing and using mouthwash. However, your circumstances may differ based on your individual oral health. Follow any instructions given by your dentist to help treat any issues with your teeth.
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Dr. Kevin B. Sands, D.D.S.
Dr. Kevin B. Sands specializes in cosmetic dentistry, taking pride in offering the finest in patient care and services to each and every patient. He is determined to give you the smile you deserve! In fact, some of the most beautiful smiles in Hollywood have come through our doors. Dr. Kevin B. Sands has trained with some of the worlds most prominent cosmetic dental specialists. He is rapidly becoming known Beverly Hills leading cosmetic dentist for people ...
