Flouride & Your Health

What is fluoride, and why is it good for my teeth?

Fluoride is a compound of the element fluorine
Found naturally in water, soil, air and most foods
Absorbed easily into tooth enamel, especially in children's growing teeth
Fluoride makes the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay

What's a "topical" fluoride, and when should I use it?

Found in products containing strong concentrations of fluoride to fight tooth decay
Brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day or after every meal
Professionally administered topical fluorides such as gels or varnishes are applied by dentists and left on for about four minutes, usually during a cleaning treatment
Patients with a high risk of dental caries may be prescribed a special gel for daily home use

Why is most of the water we drink fluoridated?

Fluoridated water protects against cavities and root caries
More than 144 million Americans in more than 10,000 communities drink fluoridated water, most from public water supplies with sodium fluoride added artificially
A small percentage gets water from private wells with naturally fluoridated water
Water fluoridation is endorsed by nearly every major health and safety-related organization
Fluoridation of community water supplies is the single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay and to improve oral health

Can I get too much fluoride?

Fluoride is considered safe unless it's misused or over-concentrated
Drinking excessively fluoridated water can cause dental fluorosis, a harmless cosmetic discoloring or mottling of the enamel, visible by chalky white specks and lines or pitted and brown stained enamel on developing teeth
Avoid swallowing toothpaste, mouth rinses or other topical supplements

Are children more sensitive to fluoride?

Children are vulnerable to dental fluorosis because their developing teeth are sensitive to higher fluoride levels
They are at greater risk if they swallow or use too much toothpaste and fluoride supplements, or regularly drink water containing excessive fluoride levels
Monitor your child's intake and use of fluoride, and consult with your family dentist

Reprinted with permission from the Academy of General Dentistry

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Dental Health Tips

Health Tip:

Make an appointment
with your stress—
and keep it!

Set aside a specified time of day, say 3:00 to 3:20 P.M. Keep this appointment with yourself—make it as important as a client or a child’s reading time.

Now, let the stress pour out of you, all the worry, guilt, what-ifs, if-onlys. Hold nothing back. Imagine every possible scenario that intrudes on you, day and night. Funnel it into that 20-minute period.

When the bell goes off, you are done, finished, until your next appointment with yourself.

When you’re tempted to let stressful thoughts crawl across your mind, remind yourself that you have 20 minutes to address them—tomorrow.