Blog Highlights:

• The teeth loses minerals and gains minerals on a daily basis through demineralization and remineralization
• Decay can take place when the remineralization process is not enough to repair the enamel from demineralization
• Products that have a high fluoride concentration can only be purchased with a doctor’s prescription
• Infants from 6 months old, to adolescents who are 16 years old need to be exposed to fluoride

Fluoride can be found in our water as well as in many food items. Each day, our teeth loses and gains different kinds of minerals through demineralization and remineralization. Minerals such as fluoride, phosphate, and calcium can be removed from the teeth enamel when acids from plaque bacteria erode the teeth. On the other hand, these minerals can be re-deposited into the enamel when we eat food or drink water that contain fluoride or other minerals. It is normal for our teeth to go through both processes on a daily basis, but when there is too much demineralization and not enough remineralization, tooth decay can take place.

Fluoride is a mineral that can help make your teeth more resistant to the acids that are produced by plaque bacteria. This mineral can even be used to help repair your teeth during the early stages of tooth decay.  Children who are six years old and below need fluoride simply because this mineral gets incorporated as their body develops permanent teeth. This can help make their teeth more resistant to demineralization, and more capable of remineralization. Fluoride has also been known to disrupt the acid production of bacteria in newly erupted teeth and also in adult teeth.

The different forms of Fluoride

You can get fluoride from your diet and from the water. It can also be found in mouth washes and toothpastes that have been fluoridated. Oral care products that contain lower strengths of fluoride are available over-the-counter, while products that contain higher concentrations of fluoride are only available through a doctor’s prescription.

When should you take Fluoride?

Infants from 6 months old to adolescents who are 16 years old need to have fluoride. This timeframe is where the primary teeth and the permanent teeth will emerge. But it does not mean that adults who already have permanent teeth will no longer need fluoride. This is because adults also need this mineral to help fight ag