Fluoride and Children’s Dental Health- A Parent’s Guide

Fluoride plays an essential role in ensuring that the child has good dental health. Fluoride is a mineral that is naturally present and is quite helpful in fighting tooth decay. It is even known to repair the teeth if they are in their early stages of damage. 

In Boston, there are many dental services that can provide solutions to different oral health issues. However, if you want to keep your teeth healthy and prevent any oral diseases from happening in the first place, you should consistently practice oral hygiene. 

Fluoride is an essential aspect of oral hygiene, but it should not be used in large amounts. Parents have a lot of questions about fluoride usage. For children, only a pinch of fluoride should be used when they have to brush their teeth. 

There are many toothpastes based on fluoride that you can easily find. However, make sure that you consult a general dentist in Boston, MA, before you start giving it to your children. 

Why should children use fluoride-based toothpaste?

Children are more prone to getting oral health issues, especially cavities, and tooth decay can be there too. Cavities are something that is commonly seen among children because of the consumption of candies and other junk food on a daily basis. Parents should limit the consumption of sugary food in children. 

Fluoride is a mineral that provides dual benefits, such as helping make the enamel strong for baby teeth. Furthermore, they make permanent teeth stronger and aid in development as well. Therefore, you can say that they play a protective role in saving teeth from any future complications. 

Tooth decay can result in extreme pain, there can be infections, and people might find problems when they are trying to have something or when they are trying to speak. 

What are the different benefits provided by fluoride?

Fluoride protects teeth from erosion of enamel, which can be there because of the accumulation of bacteria, which can also turn into tartar if things become complex. 

Therefore, it is essential to tell your children to brush their teeth with fluoride-based toothpaste twice a day and floss as well. This is how they can protect the outer layer of their teeth. Here are some benefits:

• If you use fluoride on a daily basis, then the number of cavities can be reduced among children. 
• Enamel can also be remineralized using fluoride. Any microscopic cavities can be repaired before they become huge. 

What are the different sources of fluoride?

There are different sources from which fluoride can be obtained; fluoride is what is going to protect your teeth from further damage:

• Fluoridated water:

Many communities make use of fluoride in their water supplies. If you drink fluoridated water, you can see it as the simplest way to maintain your oral health. There are different online resources present that can help you find such water resources. 

• Making use of the mouthwash and toothpaste:

As far as children are concerned, dentists recommend that they should start using fluoride toothpaste as soon as their teeth begin to come out. 

For children who are younger, they should only use fluoride toothpaste about the size of a rice grain. Once they reach the age where they start spitting the toothpaste after brushing, you can increase the amount gradually. 

What are the tips to ensure that the child is not consuming too much of the fluoride toothpaste?

• Only the recommended amount should be used. 
• Toothpaste should not be flavored as children might try to engulf it.
• Fluoride mouthwash needs to be monitored, too, for the same purpose. 
• Have a look at the drinking water; if it has fluoride, then make sure there is not too much of it.

Contact a professional today!

You can consult a pediatric dentist to ensure that you are taking the proper steps for your child. The amount of fluoride can be monitored by the dentist as well.