Fluoride and dental health

More than 90 percent of toothpastes sold in Switzerland contain fluoride. This has contributed decisively to the impressive reduction in the frequency of caries that have been observed among young people these last 30 years. The explanations include the following recommendations of the Swiss Society of Preventive Dentistry and Restoration (SSPR).

Whenever fluoride toothpaste comes in contact with the tooth surface, it promotes remineralisation decalcified places. Furthermore, the incorporation of fluoride in enamel increases its resistance to acids of the plate. The widespread use of fluoride is the main reason for the decline of tooth decay that has been observed in recent decades in Switzerland and in many industrialized countries worldwide.






How to form a bunt?
There exists in the mouth bacteria that adhere to the tooth surface, and multiply at high speed and form a sticky deposit (plaque). The bacteria in plaque can rapidly convert the sugar in food leftovers acid attacks tooth enamel and décalcifie.

If this occurs often, the tooth enamel breaks down and it appears a hole in the tooth (tooth decay). To prevent cavities, it is important, and more food-friendly teeth and good oral hygiene, regular use of products containing fluoride.




How does fluoride?
Fluorides act mainly in the mouth, directly on the tooth enamel, in:
increasing the resistance of tooth enamel to acid
slowing decalcification of the tooth enamel
promoting the reintroduction of minerals in the saliva already decalcified enamel, which allows to stop incipient caries, sometimes even reverse the process.





Where do we find fluoride?
Fluoride is present in small amounts in drinking water and food, but the concentrations of fluoride are usually so weak they can not have any preventive action cavities. There is in Switzerland since 1983 of iodized table salt and fluoride for effective protection against cavities (JuraSel packages with green, containing fluoride% in 0025).
Daily use of fluoride toothpaste is also part of the basic prevention.




How to use fluoride to prevent tooth decay?
Exclusive use of fluoride salt in the kitchen and table:

When most of the teeth have penetrated, the child receives the adult food and benefits as well as the preventive action of the fluoride salt.
If you should limit your salt intake, your dentist can provide effective alternatives.

Daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste:

From the breakthrough of the first baby tooth, use a toothpaste for children in 0025% of fluoride. From the breakthrough of the first permanent molar (no later than 6 years), use a toothpaste containing up to 0.15% fluoride.
Practice your child to brush their teeth at the first baby tooth. Young children love to play with toothbrushes, but do not know yet to clean teeth effectively.


Parents also need to clean their teeth thoroughly x 1 per day (preferably in the evening). A quantity of toothpaste for children fluoride on the size of a pea is enough for that.
Before the 3rd anniversary, the appearance of molars 2nd milk, do brushing with toothpaste for children 2 x per day.





Adults
Brush your teeth after every meal preference (removing leftover food) with a fluoride toothpaste, but at least 2 times a day. Cleaning should be particularly careful after a day (the elimination of the plate).





Important for children and adults
After brushed his teeth, spitting but not rinse with water, toothpaste does so even better.
In addition to measures to prevent cavities, which are described in the chapter "How to use fluoride to prevent cavities," it is recommended from age 6 to brush your teeth once a week with fluoride gel ( approximately 10 times more than the fluoride toothpaste) or rinse once a day with a fluoride solution.




What the dentist can do
The dentist provides more fluoride varnish to protect particularly surfaces of molars masticatoires freshly breakthroughs are threatened by cavities. These products can also effectively halt caries at an early stage.
If you are still using fluoride salt, daily fluoride toothpaste and a weekly fluoride gel, you have the key to good protection against cavities. But fluoridation of your teeth do not you continue to apply to good oral hygiene and food-friendly teeth.
The best practices in this area is to avoid eating sweet and intermediaries to minimize the consumption of sugar.