Fluoride for dental treatment

About Fluoride

Fluoride is a natural mineral. It is a physiologically essential element required for the normal growth and development of humans. Fluoride strengthens teeth and prevents caries. During the pre-eruptive or post-eruptive stage of tooth development, fluoride is incorporated into the tooth and makes it more resistant to dental caries. The very initial stages of dental caries are healed by fluoride. Fluoride slows the progress of dental caries by making the teeth less reactive to acid produced by bacteria. Fluoride also helps to reduce plaque accumulation in teeth.

Natural source and metabolism of fluoride

Fluoride naturally exists in groundwater. Leafy vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, and  Brussels sprouts contain 2-20mg/g of fluoride. Dried tea leaves contain 100-400 ppm of fluoride. Dried fish like mackerel, sardines, and salmon have more fluoride. Jowar, potatoes, banana, taro, cassava, and yams have high fluoride levels.

Metabolism of fluoride

Fluoride is associated with the stomach, lungs, and intestines. Fluoride is stored in hard tissues like skeleton and dentition. It is excreted in urine, feces, sweat, saliva, and tears.

Indication and time frame for fluoride treatment

Fluoride treatment is done in children aged of 6 months to 16 years who are at high risk of dental caries and receive a very low concentration of daily fluoride intake. Fluoride also benefits adults by preventing dental caries and plaque. Disable children, patients receiving radiation therapy for head and neck, patients suffering from reduced salivary flow due to medications, patients with eating disorders, and patients with removable or fixed prosthesis receive fluoride treatment.

Professional topical fluoride application

  High concentration of fluoride is applied to the enamel during professional fluoride application. In this treatment, fluoride can be applied in gel form or varnish form. For gel form fluoride application, the teeth are cleaned, polished, and dried. A custom tray with 2gm of fluoride gel is dispensed. The upper and lower custom tray with gel is inserted simultaneously in the patient’s mouth. The patient is asked to bite tightly for 4 minutes. Saliva should be ejected by suction, as it should not be swallowed by the patient. The patient is asked to expectorate saliva thoroughly after treatment. Instructions should be given not to eat, drink, or rinse for 30 minutes. For fluoride varnish cleaning, polishing, and drying the teeth is the initial step. A drop of varnish is taken in the brush and applied on the teeth surface. The patient is asked not to rinse drink and brush for the whole day.

Self-applied topical fluoride

Toothpaste contains 1000-1500 ppm of fluoride. Brushing twice a day with fluoride-containing toothpaste prevents dental caries. Fluoride mouth rinse reduces caries by 20-50%. Fluoride mouth rinses are swished vigorously once a day for one minute and spitted. It prevents bacterial metabolism and plaque formation.

Systemic fluoride

Systemic fluoride supplies a low concentration of fluoride over a long period of time. In this, the fluoride is taken orally. It helps to incorporate fluoride in teeth before eruption while after tooth eruption fluoride contacts teeth directly through saliva. Community water fluoridation, salt fluoridation, milk fluoridation, and fluoride tablets are some of the systemic delivery of fluoride.

Dental fluorosis

Excessive intake of fluoride during tooth development causes dental fluorosis. Opaque patches, mottled enamel, and hypoplasia are some of the clinical features of dental fluorosis. It is treated by microabrasion; in severe cases crown is given to the affected teeth.

Conclusions

Fluoride is an effective and safe agent to prevent and control dental caries. Fluoride dental treatment should be enhanced as it prevents dental caries in childhood. Awareness of fluoride treatment saves the teeth from irreversible damage caused by caries.

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[caption id="attachment_1548" align="alignleft" width="95"] Dr-Jovitta[/caption] Author: Dr M. Jovitta, Pediatric /Preventive Dental Health Expert, Jerush Dental & Facial Corrective Centre Click to read Dr Jovitta's other blogs: "Why flossing is important" "Brushing Techniques" "Bad breath or Halitosis" "Smoking and Oral Health", Tooth replacement options for missing teeth" "Dental pain & Root canal Procedure", "Coronavirus (COVID-19), Symptoms and Prevention", "Gingivitis & Covid 19"  "Oral cancer treatment" "Pericoronitis" "Teething" "Invisalign" "Dental jewels" "Warning signs your tongue gives you"