Topical Fluoride Treatment For Your Child?

Tooth decay or dental caries is one of the most common dental problems in children. While not a life-threatening condition, it is crucial to protect your child from this problem and the pain that comes with it.

In fact, healthy teeth are important to your child’s overall health. A topical fluoride treatment could help protect your kids from tooth decay. It will not only help them enjoy healthier teeth and gums now, but it might also ensure their future dental health.

The Importance of Topical Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride is effective in strengthening the teeth enamel’s mineral content. Although it can help avert dental carries throughout life, fluoride is particularly essential for enamel when it is still developing.

Your little one may be getting fluoride from other sources like drinking water and toothpaste. From these sources, however, fluoride must first pass through the digestive tract. Then it goes through the bloodstream before reaching the teeth.

Topical fluoride treatment goes directly to the enamel. It promotes efficient absorption of the chemical into the teeth enamel.

Topical Fluoride Application Techniques

A dentist may apply fluoride to your child’s teeth as a varnish, gel, or foam. These applications boast higher levels of fluoride compared to what you get from other sources like toothpaste.

The varnish is painted on the teeth while the foam is put into a mouthguard. In the case of foam, your child will wear the mouth guard for one to four minutes. For gels, the dentist can either paint them on teeth or apply them through a mouthguard.

What Are The Side Effects of Fluoride?

Like any medication, excessive fluoride can have detrimental effects. Too much fluoride may lead to:

• White spots on mature teeth
• Staining and pitting on teeth
• Very dense but weak bones
• Bone homeostasis issues

Nonetheless, the benefits of fluoride outweigh the risk of detrimental side effects, particularly for kids aged at least 6 years. Various studies around the world have revealed an average 28% drop in decayed, filled, or missing teeth in kids who receive a topical fluoride treatment.