Is Fluoride Important for Your Teeth?

Fluoride is a mineral that is necessary for the health of your teeth and bones. It is a naturally occurring element that helps strengthen your teeth and can also assist in repairing tooth decay early on.

In this article, Dr. Robert Saunders, DDS, and Dr. Brittany Krog, DDS, in Fargo, North Dakota, explain the importance of fluoride for your dental health.

How Does Fluoride Support Dental Health?

Fluoride is a mineral that is often used in dentistry to strengthen the enamel of your teeth and also to prevent cavities. 

In the United States and other nations, fluoride is added in modest amounts to public water sources to support these goals. Water fluoridation is the term for this technique.

Benefits of Incorporating Fluoride Into Your Dental Routine

Even if they seem harmful, salad dressings, fruit juices, and tomatoes can destroy the enamel of your teeth on a daily basis. When you use fluoride toothpaste, this mineral gets absorbed into the teeth while brushing to prevent tooth decay but also aid in the reduction of acid-related enamel erosion. 

Fluoride helps strengthen the enamel when it is absorbed into the teeth, thereby making it resistant to demineralization, which is the major cause of tooth decay and cavities. 

Below are some of the benefits of fluoride for your dental health:

• Slows the process of demineralization
• Limits the accumulation of dangerous oral bacteria
• Reverses the early signs of tooth deterioration
• The administration of topical fluoride helps restore tooth enamel and increases the size of enamel crystals, making teeth less vulnerable to decay.

Risks Associated With Fluoride

There are several risk factors associated with excess intake of fluoride, such as:

• Dental fluorosis occurs when you swallow an excessive amount of fluoride while your teeth are still developing beneath your gums and can cause white spots on the surface of your teeth.
• Skeletal fluorosis is characterized by joint and bone hardening. This happens when you consume exceptionally high quantities of fluoride regularly for a long period of time.
• Fluoride exposure can cause thyroid gland damage, resulting in the unregulated production of parathyroid hormones.
• Fluoride can be quite beneficial for your dental health. However, it is always advised to consult a professional before you increase your fluoride intake.

For more information on the importance of fluoride for your dental health, call (701) 293-9886 or visit Dr. Robert Saunders, DDS, and Dr. Brittany Krog, DDS, at 2834 S University Dr, Fargo, ND 58103.