What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in many foods and water. In dentistry, healthcare providers use fluoride to strengthen teeth and reduce the risk of cavities.
What does fluoride do?
Every day, your enamel (the protective outer layer of your tooth) gains and loses minerals. You lose minerals when acids — formed from bacteria, plaque and sugars in your mouth — attack your enamel. (This process is demineralization.) You gain minerals — like fluoride, calcium and phosphate — when you consume food and water that contain these minerals. (This process is remineralization.)
Tooth decay is a result of too much demineralization without enough remineralization.
Dental fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making your enamel more resistant to acid attacks. It also reverses early decay.
Types of fluoride used in dentistry
Many foods and water contain fluoride. You can also purchase fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash. You can buy low-strength fluoride mouthwash over the counter. Stronger concentrations in liquid or tablet form need a healthcare provider’s prescription.
A dentist can also apply fluoride to your teeth in the form of:
- Foam, which they’ll dispense into a custom tray, then place over your teeth.
- Varnish, which they’ll paint directly on your teeth.
- Gel, which they’ll either paint on your teeth or dispense in a custom tray.
At what age is fluoride intake most important?
Infants and children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years need an appropriate amount of fluoride. Developing teeth benefit from fluoride just as much as teeth that have already erupted (grown in).
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends watching the intake of too much fluoride in infants and young children. The ADA specifically recommends avoiding reconstituted liquid formulas, such as liquid concentrate or powdered baby formulas that require mixing with fluoridated water.
Instead, the ADA recommends breast milk (chest milk), ready-to-feed formula or prepared formula mixed with fluoride-free water. These recommendations are to guard against enamel fluorosis — faint white streaks that can appear on tooth enamel during a child’s developmental years, even before the teeth erupt through the gums.
For young children, the ADA also recommends:
- Using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste at each brushing.
- Spitting out rather than swallowing the toothpaste.
- Not allowing children under age 6 to use fluoride mouth rinses unless recommended by a dentist or other healthcare provider.
- Not giving fluoride-containing dietary supplements to children under 6 months of age.
Do adults benefit from fluoride?
Yes, adults can benefit from fluoride, too. You might especially benefit from fluoride if you have:
- Dry mouth (xerostomia), a common side effect of some healthcare conditions (like Sjögren’s syndrome) and certain medications (such as allergy medications and antihistamines). Saliva (spit) helps wash away food particles and bacteria. Slow saliva production makes you more prone to oral health issues like gum disease and cavities.
- Gum disease, which exposes your teeth and gums to bacteria and increases your risk of tooth decay.
- A history of tooth decay, which usually means that you’d benefit from additional fluoride.
- Crowns, bridges, braces or removable partial dentures, which may increase your risk of cavities, especially around orthodontic brackets or where your crown meets your tooth.
FAQs
The benefits of using dental fluoride include stronger enamel and better protection against tooth decay. But large amounts of fluoride can be toxic. It can also result in fluoride-induced tooth discoloration (fluorosis). Ask your dentist how to get the right amount of fluoride.
What are the downsides of fluoride? ›
However, excessive fluoride exposure in infants and children does warrant further exploration, especially in areas where fluoride levels are naturally high. Potential downsides of fluoride include fluorosis, an increased risk of osteosarcoma, and impaired brain development in infants and children.
What does fluoride do to your body? ›
Fluoride, a mineral, is naturally present in many foods and available as a dietary supplement. Fluoride is the ionic form of the element fluorine, and it inhibits or reverses the initiation and progression of dental caries (tooth decay) and stimulates new bone formation [1].
Why do people avoid fluoride? ›
Potential Toxicity: In high doses, fluoride can be toxic, leading to serious health issues. This is a particular concern when fluoride is ingested in large amounts. Individual Sensitivity: Some individuals may have a lower tolerance or sensitivity to fluoride, necessitating the need for alternative dental care options.
Why don't dentists use fluoride anymore? ›
Over the years, there has been very little evidence supporting the use of fluoride. That means given the results of the research studies, there is currently not enough evidence to suggest using fluoride enhanced toothpastes and mouthwashes or undergoing fluoride treatment is beneficial.
Why do dentists push fluoride? ›
Dentists advocate for fluoride use primarily because of its proven benefits in preventing tooth decay and strengthening tooth enamel. Fluoride helps remineralize weakened tooth areas, effectively reducing the risk of cavities by making teeth more resistant to acid attacks from bacteria and sugars in the mouth.
Is fluoride in tap water bad for you? ›
Q: Is the fluoride in my drinking water safe? A: Yes. When added or naturally present in the correct amounts, fluoride in drinking water has greatly improved the dental health of American and Canadian consumers. Early studies suggesting that fluoride was a possible cancer-causing chemical proved to be incorrect.
Why do people think fluoride is bad for them? ›
Adding fluoride to the water supply reduces the incidence of tooth decay. Fluoride protects teeth from decay by demineralization and remineralization. Too much fluoride can lead to dental fluorosis or skeletal fluorosis, which can damage bones and joints.
What countries do not use fluoride? ›
On the international front, most of the west European countries have rejected water fluoridation including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Why do adults not need fluoride? ›
Everyone needs to have some amount of fluoride, but if you have healthy teeth, you will probably get enough of it in your daily toothpaste and from your tap water. You should still read the labels on your toothpaste to make sure that it contains fluoride so that you are protecting your teeth every time you brush.
Thinking topical fluoride is unnecessary. Wanting to keep chemicals out of their child's body. Thinking fluoride is harmful. Thinking there is too much uncertainty about fluoride.
Why is fluoride bad in toothpaste? ›
A 2019 CDC study found that fluoride is linked to the development of dental fluorosis. This is a dental defect that causes tooth enamel to become hypomineralized. While mostly cosmetic — causing unsightly discoloration of the teeth — in severe cases, it may also weaken the tooth's structure and lead to physical damage.
Do holistic dentists use fluoride? ›
Holistic dentistry might be unsafe if you have: History of tooth decay. Since holistic dentists do not support fluoride, you may be at risk for more cavities since fluoride has been shown to prevent tooth decay.
Should I say no to fluoride at the dentist? ›
A: Although endorsed by many dental and health organizations globally for its benefits in preventing tooth decay. However, it's your health, and ultimately the choice is yours. Consider all sides, consult your dentist, and ensure you can maintain a rigorous oral hygiene routine if you decide to forego fluoride.
Is fluoride free toothpaste better? ›
When you shop for toothpaste, you'll come across formulas with and without fluoride. Although fluoride-free solutions can scrape off bacteria, fluoride toothpastes are more effective for cavity control.
What are the negatives of fluoride in drinking water? ›
High fluoride levels can cause dental fluorosis, a condition that causes white patches to form on the surface of enamel. High fluoride intake can also cause health problems such as stomach cancer and infertility.
Why should people oppose fluoride? ›
The scientists or doctors who oppose water fluoridation argue that it has no or little cariostatic benefits, may cause serious health problems, is not effective enough to justify the costs, and is pharmacologically obsolete.
