Flouride & Your Health
What is fluoride, and why is it good for my teeth?
- Fluoride
is a compound of the element fluorine
- Found naturally in water,
soil, air and most foods
- Absorbed easily into tooth enamel, especially
in children's growing teeth
- Fluoride makes the entire tooth structure
more resistant to decay
What's a "topical" fluoride,
and when should I use it?
- Found in products containing strong concentrations of fluoride
to fight tooth decay
- Brush with fluoride toothpaste at least
twice a day or after every meal
- Professionally administered topical
fluorides such as gels or varnishes are applied by dentists and
left on for about four minutes, usually
during a cleaning treatment
- Patients with a high risk of dental
caries may be prescribed a special gel for daily home use
Why is most of the water we drink fluoridated?
- Fluoridated water protects against cavities and root caries
- More
than 144 million Americans in more than 10,000 communities
drink fluoridated water, most from public water supplies with
sodium fluoride added artificially
- A small percentage gets water from private
wells with naturally fluoridated water
- Water fluoridation is endorsed by nearly every major health
and safety-related organization
- Fluoridation of community
water supplies is the single most effective public health measure
to
prevent tooth decay and to improve oral health
Can I get too much fluoride?
- Fluoride is considered safe unless it's misused or over-concentrated
- Drinking
excessively fluoridated water can cause dental fluorosis, a
harmless cosmetic discoloring or mottling of the enamel, visible
by chalky white specks and lines or pitted and brown stained
enamel on developing teeth
- Avoid swallowing toothpaste, mouth rinses or other
topical supplements
Are children more sensitive to fluoride?
- Children are vulnerable to dental fluorosis because their developing
teeth are sensitive to higher fluoride levels
- They are at greater
risk if they swallow or use too much toothpaste and fluoride
supplements, or regularly drink water containing
excessive fluoride levels
- Monitor your child's intake and use of fluoride, and
consult with your family dentist
Reprinted with permission from the Academy of General Dentistry
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Health Tip:
Microwaves and 'Erupted Hot Water Phenomena'
Hot-water eruption can occur if you use a microwave oven to super-heat water in a clean cup. ("Super-heated" means the water is hot beyond boiling temperature, although it shows no signs of boiling.)
A slight disturbance or movement may cause the water to violently explode out of the cup. There have been reports of serious skin burns or scalding injuries around people's hands and faces as a result of this phenomenon.
Adding materials such as instant coffee or sugar to the water before heating greatly reduces the risk of hot-water eruption. Also, follow the precautions and recommendations found in microwave oven instruction manuals; specifically the heating time.
More microwaves safety tips.
