Good oral hygiene should begin early in life. It’s important for parents to teach their young children about their teeth and how to properly take care of their teeth and gums with twice-daily brushing, daily flossing, and a healthy diet. Another helpful boost for children’s teeth? Fluoride. A naturally occurring mineral, fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel to ward off demineralization, tooth decay, and tooth stains. Fluoride is particularly beneficial for children to strengthen their developing teeth. Pediatric dentistry offers fluoride treatments for children to ensure they reap the benefits of fluoride.
Benefits of Fluoride for Children’s Teeth
Your tooth enamel naturally loses minerals that have to be replenished to maintain its strength. This is called demineralization. Depositing minerals to the enamel is called remineralization. Remineralization is necessary to repair the enamel layer. Too much demineralization without adequate remineralization results in tooth decay. Fluoride speeds remineralization to keep your tooth enamel strong and healthy. Fluoride also interferes with acid production to slow the erosion of tooth enamel from acid in the mouth.
Fluoride Treatments & Products
- Fluoride treatments for children are a preventive dentistry treatment that further protect children’s teeth. A coat of fluoride varnish is added to the surface of a child’s teeth to strengthen the tooth enamel and serve as a layer of protection.
- Both parents and children should use a fluoride toothpaste when brushing their teeth.
- Encourage your children to drink your tap water: Most public water supplies have gone through water fluoridation to add fluoride to the public’s drinking water. The purpose of water fluoridation is to reduce the occurrence of tooth decay.
- You can also buy specialty bottled water that has been fluoridated, so your children can enjoy fluoridated water on the go.
- Children should also visit the pediatric dentist every six months for a dental cleaning and check-up. Regular check-ups should begin by the child’s second birthday.
ABOUT YOUR SHREWSBURY DENTISTS:
At Modern Dentistry, Todd A. Pizzi, DDS, and Luciana Messina, DDS, are dedicated to providing high-quality cosmetic, restorative, and preventive dentistry services to patients and families in Shrewsbury, Worcester, North and South Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Boylston, Hopkinton, Millbury, and all surrounding communities. To schedule your next appointment, contact our office by calling (508) 842-6356 today.
