Fluoride: Your Dental Superhero

Your mouth is an urban battle zone and your helpless teeth are being held hostage daily. The villains, acids, plaque, and tartar, seek to destroy your teeth while fluoride leads the rescue team of minerals working to restore and protect your pearly whites. Here’s what you need to know.

Every day, minerals are added to and lost from a tooth’s enamel layer through two processes, demineralization and remineralization. Minerals are lost (demineralization) from a tooth’s enamel layer when acids — formed from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth — attack the enamel. Minerals such as fluoride, calcium, and phosphate are redeposited (remineralization) to the enamel layer from the foods and waters consumed. Too much demineralization without enough remineralization to repair the enamel layer leads to tooth decay.

So what makes fluoride the captain of dental superheroes? Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. It also reverses early decay. In children under 6 years of age, fluoride actually becomes part of the permanent teeth, making it difficult for acids to demineralize the teeth. Fluoride also helps speed remineralization and slows down acid production in teeth of both children and adults.

So where can fluoride be found? Most communities add fluoride to the water supply. Toothpastes and mouthwashes are also a common source of fluoride. For individuals who for some reason need an extra boost of fluoride, there are several delivery methods available to your dentist. Only he can choose what is best for you.

On that note, Apple Dental is committed to your dental health. We are just as committed to prevention as we are to restoration. Call and make your appointment today!