Fluoride in Olympia, WA
Your child’s oral health will benefit greatly from fluoride, delivered through tap water, healthy foods, and professional application in our Olympia office. We partner with parents in preventive dentistry, offering advice, tips, and strategies to deter tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems. It would thrill our hearts as much as yours if your kiddo never had a cavity!
DID YOU KNOW?
The majority of public water supplies in the United States are fortified with fluoride to benefit children’s oral health.
Fluoride Is a Powerful Weapon Against Decay
You may wonder what the big deal is with fluoride. Why is it so important for teeth? Tooth enamel needs calcium and phosphorus for strength. Fluoride attracts these minerals.
When we eat starches, including sugars, oral bacteria produce an acid that leaches calcium and phosphorus from enamel, softening it. In a softer, demineralized state, tooth enamel is subject to bacterial attack. Bad bacteria eat away tooth structure to cause cavities.
The good news is that saliva contains phosphorus and fluoride and remineralizes teeth. Adding fluoride to the mix makes teeth less prone to softening and developing cavities.
Kids also benefit from fluoride in their diet. Before permanent teeth arrive, they grow inside the jaw. By drinking tap water and eating fluoride-rich foods, the unerupted teeth acquire fluoride, and their enamel is strengthened. Flouride-rich foods include oatmeal, cooked carrots, raisins, and potatoes. Adults don’t benefit from ingested fluoride because their permanent teeth are fully developed.
Professional Fluoride Treatments in Olympia
Professional fluoride treatment takes just minutes to apply and is a great weapon against cavities. Expect these steps if your child needs fluoride treatment:
- We clean the teeth to remove plaque, tartar, and food debris.
- We use a dental dam or gel to protect their gums.
- We then apply the liquid fluoride to all teeth.
- As the fluoride sets up, your child will wait for a few moments, then we’ll wipe away any excess and remove the protective dam or gel.
- Plan on your child not eating or drinking for about 30 minutes after treatment. Teeth may feel gritty at first, but this feeling will go away.
- Based on the dentist’s recommendation, the process can be repeated at every or every other exam and cleaning appointment.
Unfluoridated or Fluoridated Toothpaste?
Children under three years of age may not spit out toothpaste but instead swallow most of it when their teeth are brushed. We recommend babies and toddlers use unfluoridated toothpaste.
Once a child understands to spit when brushing, you can move to using fluoridated toothpaste.
Why should kids not swallow fluoridated toothpaste? Permanent teeth, when developing, can be stained with white, horizontal lines if fluoride toothpaste is swallowed day after day. These lines, called fluorosis, are not harmful to health but create a cosmetic flaw. Teeth whitening can brighten the enamel without fluorosis, which helps disguise the lines, but there is no procedure to remove fluorosis lines from enamel. Fluorosis lines are permanent, lifelong stains.
Keep Your Child’s Teeth Healthy and Strong
Professional dental fluoride treatments are one more weapon in your arsenal against cavities when coupled with good, consistent daily oral home care, six-month exams, and cleanings. We also offer dental sealants to create a barrier between hard-to-clean molars and bad oral bacteria. As partners with you, we are happy to answer all your questions about preventive dentistry. Contact us today to schedule your child’s appointment with our children’s dentistry office in Olympia.
