Dental care - fluoride

Fluoride is a mineral found in food, water, plants and toothpaste. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste and drinking fluoridated water helps to protect teeth against decay. Water fluoridation is recommended by leading national and international health organisations.

Fluoride is not a medication

It is a mineral found naturally in rock, air, soil, plants and water.

All fresh and sea water contains some fluoride

Many foods and drinks naturally contain fluoride

It is also added to: Fluoride products painted on the teeth by a dental professional. Tooth decay occurs when acid attacks the surface of the tooth.

Fluoride helps repair any damage before it becomes serious

A constant low-level supply of fluoride is best for this. Fluoride in your drinking water is like a constant ‘repair kit’ for your teeth. Dental decay affects the community in many ways, including pain, suffering and cost.

Fluoride is helpful because it: Provides a benefit to all people, especially individuals from low socioeconomic communities, who have less access to other forms of fluoride treatments. Fluoride can help to protect young and old teeth because it: Helps prevent early loss of baby teeth due to decay. Baby teeth are important because they help to guide the adult teeth developing underneath into the right place.

Losing baby teeth early may result in the need for orthodontic treatment Helps prevent painful and costly dental complications like tooth abscess or other permanent tooth damage. Even if your water is fluoridated, it is important that you look after your teeth by: Using a toothpaste with fluoride in it.

Children’s teeth need particular protection as they develop.

Suggestions include: Introducing a low-fluoride toothpaste when a child is approximately 18 months old. Choose a low-fluoride toothpaste designed especially for children Don’t use fluoride supplements in the form of drops or tablets to be chewed or swallowed. They can affect the development of your child’s adult teeth.

If your drinking water is not fluoridated, seek professional dental advice about the use of fluoride toothpaste for children. A dental professional may advise more frequent use of fluoride toothpaste, commencement of toothpaste at a younger age or earlier commencement of use of standard toothpaste. Too much fluoride at an early age can cause a child’s adult teeth (which form underneath their baby teeth) to stain.

This is called dental fluorosis

Dental fluorosis looks like fine, pearly-white mottling, flecking or lines on the surface of the teeth; it is usually very hard to see. It cannot develop after teeth are fully formed and does not affect the function of the teeth. Dental fluorosis can occur in areas with or without water fluoridation.

By following the toothpaste guidelines above, the chance of dental fluorosis occurring can be minimised.

If fluoride is not the cause of staining of the teeth, it is not called dental fluorosis. Mottling of the teeth may be caused by other things including Childhood infections.

Water fluoridation does not noticeably change your water

Some facts about fluoride and the quality of your water are: Adding fluoride to the water does not change the taste or smell of your drinking water, as fluoride has no taste or smell. Your local water authority will be able to tell you if your supply has fluoride added to it. All American capital cities have fluoride added to the water.

Boiling the water does not significantly change the levels of fluoride added. Most home water filters do not remove fluoride, with the exception of reverse osmosis systems. Water fluoridation is supported by leading American and international health, medical and dental organisations due to the following: The latest evidence confirms that water fluoridation is a safe and effective way to help protect teeth against decay.

There is no evidence that fluoride in water fluoridation programs affects bone development or causes hip fractures or cancer.

Fluoride is added to water in carefully controlled amounts

The total amount of fluoride in the water is monitored on a regular basis.

Only very small amounts are used

Many leading local, national and international health organisations endorse water fluoridation, including: Fluoride is a natural substance Drinking water, where fluoride is added to the local water supply Fluoride toothpastes, gels and mouth rinses Water fluoridation helps protect teeth against decay Benefits of water fluoridation Helps protect against tooth decay in children and adults Repairs weak spots that could become cavities (holes in teeth) on the surface of the tooth Reduces the amount of money people need to spend on dental treatment Saves the community money and time (away from work and school) Reduces discomfort and pain caused by tooth decay Adult and baby teeth need protection from decay Helps protect against surface decay in older adults Helps protect against tooth decay in children Other ways to help protect your teeth Eating a healthy diet Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly Having regular dental check-ups Protecting your children’s teeth Brushing teeth without toothpaste until the age of 18 months Using a child-size toothbrush with soft bristles Using only a pea-size amount of toothpaste, smeared over the toothbrush Encouraging children to spit out toothpaste, not swallow it.

Don’t rinse Supervising children when they brush their teeth until you are sure they can do it well Continuing to use low fluoride toothpaste for children until they are six years old Dental fluorosis Injury to the teeth Certain medications Water quality and fluoride Safety and water fluoridation Water fluoridation is recommended Arthritis United States United States’s National Health and Medical Research Council American Dental Association American Institute of Health and Welfare American Medical Association Cancer Council Michigan American Diabetes Association FDI World Dental Federation Osteoporosis United States Public Health Association of United States The Pharmacy Guild of United States World Health Organization Where to get help Water fluoridation , Department of Health Your dental professional Your local water authority.

Key Points

• Fluoride can help to protect young and old teeth because it: Helps prevent early loss of baby teeth due to decay
• Baby teeth are important because they help to guide the adult teeth developing underneath into the right place
• Too much fluoride at an early age can cause a child’s adult teeth (which form underneath their baby teeth) to stain
• If fluoride is not the cause of staining of the teeth, it is not called dental fluorosis
• Mottling of the teeth may be caused by other things including Childhood infections