Fluoride is a fantastic way to prevent cavities, both in children and adults. However, like most things too much of a good thing can cause problems.  If a child under the age of ten consumes too much fluoride, they are at risk for dental fluorosis of the adult teeth. If you have questions about the prevention or treatment of fluorosis you should talk to your child’s dentist about it.

How to Identify, Treat, & Prevent Dental Fluorosis

What Is Dental Fluorosis?

Dental fluorosis changes the appearance of a person’s tooth enamel. It happens during the development of adult teeth when children are ten or younger. Most cases result in mild white specks, spots, or lines on the teeth. They may only be visible to a dentist, or they could occur on teeth that most people don’t see. Rarely, the condition may cause brown spots, as well as pits in the enamel. However, less than 1% of cases result in this severe form.

This condition occurs when a young child consumes too much fluoride over a long period. A significant reason is the improper use of fluoride mouthwashes or toothpaste. Sometimes, children like the taste and swallow the toothpaste or mouthwash. Also, if the water in your area has a fluoride concentration that’s over two milligrams per liter, and you use other fluoride products, your child might be at risk.

Treatment

Since fluorosis is mostly cosmetic, the treatment is also cosmetic. A person who has the condition may ask their dentist to whiten their teeth. At first, this may worsen the white spots, but over time, their appearance will decrease and blend in better with the whitened teeth. For more severe cases, crowns or veneers are an option that will disguise the look of stained teeth. Another method is using MI Paste and microabrasion to minimize the look of stains.

Prevention

The first step to prevent dental fluorosis is to know the fluoride concentration of your city’s drinking water. Ask your dentist for this information or check the CDC’s fluoride database. If the level is high, talk to your dentist about whether or not your kid should use mouthwash or toothpaste that contains fluoride.

Keep products containing fluoride out of the reach of young children, who might eat or drink them when you’re not around. It is recommended that a non-fluoride toothpaste be used for very young children because they may not be able to spit out the toothpaste when you are brushing their teeth. For children that are able to consistently not swallow while brushing, only a small peas size amount of toothpaste is needed to clean the teeth.  It is also important to watch them brush their teeth and teach them not to swallow their toothpaste or mouthwash. 

It is important to remember that consuming the proper amount of fluoride is very helpful for children.  At the right levels the fluoride will make the adult teeth stronger and more resistant to decay.  So while it may be tempting to avoid all forms of fluoride, in order to avoid fluorosis.  It is better to follow the guidelines given above in order to get the benefits of fluoride.

The experts at Keen Dental Care in Columbia, MO, can provide the dental care your child needs. They provide comprehensive dental care for the whole family, where you can ask questions about fluoride. Also, they provide cosmetic dentistry like veneers, whitening, and crowns if you or your child already have fluorosis. Visit their website or call (573) 875-5336 to request an appointment today.