How Fluoride Fights Cavities

You’ve been told so many times that fluoride makes your teeth stronger that you may never have wondered just how it goes about doing so. We take a closer look at the incredible mechanism that makes fluoride such an effective fighter of cavities.

What is Fluoride?

Fluoride is an ion of fluorine which carries a negative electric charge. Opposites attract, so it joins easily with positively charge ions. This forms a compound, and that compound is the tooth decay fighter we’re looking for.

There are many types of fluoride compounds. Calcium fluoride is an extremely common, naturally occurring form of fluoride and it’s so abundant that almost all natural drinking water sources contain it. Sodium fluoride is easily synthesized and is widely used in toothpastes. In the old days, the fluoride added to drinking water was sodium fluoride. But these days, water utilities have switched to fluorosilicic acid.

Here’s How it Works

Your teeth are covered by hard tooth enamel – the hardest substance in your body. They need the extra protection because when we eat carbohydrates, tooth-enamel-eating acids are produced. We’d be in trouble if it weren’t for our saliva, which works to neutralize these acids and protect our teeth.

Here’s where fluoride comes into the picture. When there’s fluoride in our saliva or on your teeth, the tooth enamel absorbs it. It joins with calcium and phosphate forming a compound called fluorapatite and this compound physically strengthens your teeth – it can even reverse early-stage tooth decay.

There are new discoveries about fluoride too. Recent research indicates that fluoride makes it harder for bacteria to stick to your teeth. Less bacteria means less plaque, and that means less tooth decay.

Why Fluoride is Controversial

As most of us know, you can have too much of a good thing. Too much fluoride can cause fluorosis, a condition in which levels of fluoride in the body have become too high. This condition can cause permanent damage, and a lot of people worry about fluoride in drinking water because of it.

Having said that, fluorosis is relatively rare, and low levels of fluoride in drinking water could be behind a decrease in the incidence of tooth decay – it’s just a matter of getting the balance right.

Topical Application

As dentists, we’re particularly interested in topical applications of fluoride – applying it directly to the teeth. A fluoride treatment or a fluoride varnish at your dentist’s office can prevent cavities. And although we usually think of fluoride treatments for kids, adults can benefit too. Some researchers even think it may be the future of no-drill dentistry.

Chances are, you’re already giving yourself mild fluoride treatments when you brush your teeth. After all, a good toothpaste will contain fluoride. But if you’ve ever wondered why you should never swallow your toothpaste, you now know the answer: too much fluoride taken internally will be bad for you.

Ask Your Dentist About Fluoride Treatments

Contrary to popular belief, your family Surrey dentist doesn’t want to see cavities in your teeth. We will help you and treat you when things go wrong, but we our primary goal is not to fix bad teeth but to help you keep them healthy. Fluoride helps us to do that.

If you’d like to find out more about fluoride treatments, chat to your dentist at your next check-up. After all, it could spare you from the dreaded drill and help you keep your natural teeth healthy for longer.