Sycamore Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry is passionate about keeping your child’s smile strong, healthy, and cavity-free. When it comes to treatment, there’s one naturally occurring tool that can make all the difference. While it’s often discussed in toothpaste commercials, many parents still have questions or concerns about fluoride, so let’s address them.
What Exactly Does Fluoride Do?
Every day, your child’s teeth go through a cycle called demineralization and remineralization. Demineralization occurs when acids, often created by bacteria feeding on sugars, wear away at the enamel. Remineralization happens when minerals like calcium and fluoride are redeposited to strengthen the enamel.
Fluoride supports this natural repair process by:
- Reinforcing tooth enamel to make it more resistant to acid attacks
- Slowing down or reversing the early stages of tooth decay
- Supporting the healthy development of permanent teeth
This makes fluoride one of the best defenses against cavities, especially for actively developing smiles.
When Does My Child Need Fluoride?
We recommend fluoride treatment for children of all ages, beginning as soon as their first tooth appears. Your child can benefit from fluoride in several forms:
- Topical fluoride, applied during a dental cleaning
- Fluoride toothpaste, used during brushing at home
- Fluoridated water, available in many communities
At Sycamore Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Sarah will evaluate your child’s risk factors (i.e., diet, oral hygiene habits, and more) and recommend the appropriate fluoride exposure. We will never overexpose your child to fluoride.
- Under age 3: Use a smear of toothpaste the size of a grain of rice.
- Ages 3-6: Use a pea-sized amount.
Always supervise your child’s brushing to make sure they don’t swallow fluoride toothpaste.
Debunking Common Myths About Fluoride
Let’s clear up some confusion about fluoride. There’s a lot of misinformation out there, but here are the facts—and a few extra myths we want to bust while we’re at it!
Myth 1: Fluoride is actually unsafe for kids.
Truth: In appropriate amounts, fluoride is completely safe. In fact, it’s endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association.
Myth 2: Kids get enough fluoride from water.
Truth: Not all areas have water sources containing enough fluoride to make any feasible impact, and children with high cavity risk often benefit from supplemental fluoride treatments.
Myth 3: Fluoride can damage teeth.
Truth: Excessive fluoride can cause fluorosis, but this is more unusual and generally very mild (such as faint white spots on teeth). It’s preventable by supervising brushing, using age-appropriate toothpaste, and attending your scheduled check-ups at Sycamore Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, so we can monitor your use.
Myth 4: Natural alternatives are always better than fluoride.
Truth: While there are certainly other natural products that can support oral hygiene, they usually don’t provide the same cavity-fighting power as fluoride. Fluoride is backed by decades of scientific research and clinical results, which is why we recommend it so highly!
Myth 5: Fluoride is only needed for permanent teeth.
Truth: Baby teeth are just as vulnerable to cavities and play a major role in your child’s dental development. Fluoride can help protect both baby and adult teeth from decay.
Other Preventive Treatments to Support Your Child’s Smile
Fluoride is just one piece of the preventative puzzle. To maintain your child’s oral health, our team also offers:
- Sealants: A protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of molars to prevent food and bacteria from settling in deep grooves. These are usually applied around age 6-7 and again at age 12-14 to protect permanent teeth.
- Regular exams and cleanings: Professional cleanings every six months help remove buildup and detect issues early.
- Oral hygiene education: We’ll teach your child how to brush and floss effectively, in a way that is age-appropriate and easy for them to understand.
- X-rays when needed: We take advanced digital x-rays to detect cavities between teeth and monitor tooth development. We make this process as comfortable as possible.
- Mouth guards: A pretty large portion of our patients are student athletes! In contact sports, mouth guards are absolutely necessary to prevent serious damage from happening. It’s just another level of protective equipment for your kids, like a helmet.
All of these services and your ongoing support as a parent work together to reduce the risk of decay and support your child’s overall health.
Keeping Smiles Safe
It’s not easy to navigate your child’s dental health, since there always seems to be an onslaught of miscellaneous information out there. When in doubt, call your family dentist—we will be your best resource to guide you in the right direction. You can reach out to our Sycamore office to get started with us!