If you’re trying to make your smile really shine, you can do so via brushing, and flossing. But what about other ways for you to make your oral care really shine? Well, fluoride is one of those ways. Here’s what you’ve got to know about this, and why it’s imperative to use fluoride to improve your oral health.
What Fluoride is
If you’ve ever wondered what fluoride is, you’re not alone. It’s actually something that’s found within the earth, and is in nature. It’s a natural item that’s found in a lot of water and foods, and it’s pretty easy to procure. Many times, fluoride gets added to the water that you drink, in order to make the teeth stronger and reduce the decay of the teeth.
It was found that, as long ago as 1930, that fluoride is helpful, and it’s good for fighting the cavities in your mouth.
It was found that the areas that did drink water with fluoride in it, had better teeth, and less decay. It was also found that when it got added to the water supply in communities, it actually reduced tooth decay in a lot of cases all around the board.
The ADA and the WHO also both agree that using fluoride in the water is not a bad thing. It’s been found to be a natural cavity fighter, so it’s good for you to use.
How Fluoride Works
The best way to describe how it works is through the process of remineralization. This is also during the demineralization part of this.
When you have plaque and bacteria, demineralization takes place, and this is basically where the bacteria and the plaque will feast on the teeth. They feed on the carbs and sugar that are there. this creates an acid that’ll weaken the enamel of the teeth.
So how does fluoride come into play? Well, when you want to protect the teeth from the damage that’s caused by this, and other sorts of negative effects, this is it.
Basically, it comes in here and helps with putting more calcium and phosphate into the teeth. This is the process that’s called remineralization. It’s important because it actually can help with making the teeth stronger, and keeping them stronger.
If you remineralize your teeth too much without replacement, that’s what creates tooth decay, so you have to be mindful of that.
This is good for a lot of children too. When this enters into the bloodstream in very small dosages, it actually helps with developing the permanent adult teeth that you have. It also strengthens the teeth from the outer part, so then the acids won’t damage the enamel that’s there. In essence, this will keep the teeth strong, while also preventing the cavities that are there, and also mitigating the tooth sensitivity that can happen too.
It strengthens the teeth by helping the enamel absorb all of this. Fluoride also does naturally bond with phosphate and calcium, in order to help create a material that’s called fluorapatite, which is basically a material that resists the cavities that’s there.
Now, the bigger question, is it safe? It is, but if you do have too much, it can prove to be a problem. This can create dental fluorosis, which is basically a type of condition that causes the teeth to be discolored or gray due to too much fluoride. So be mindful of that, and if you're not sure whether or not you're getting enough to your doctor to see as well just what you can do, and if it’s right.
