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Fluoride is a mineral that has long been used to fight kids' cavities and improve overall oral health. It is found in water supplies, certain foods, and oral care products like toothpaste and mouth rinses. Fluoride treatments are also a normal part of a child's dental checkup. Learn more about what fluoride is and the benefits it provides below.

What Is Fluoride?

kids' cavitiesA naturally occurring mineral, fluoride is everywhere in the environment: in soil, plants, rocks, water, and even in the air. It’s also in many types of seafood, tea and coffee, grape juice, and any products made with fluoridated drinking water.

Since the 1940s, communities in several developed nations, including the United States, have added fluoride compounds to their water supplies to prevent tooth decay and support better public health.

How It Benefits Teeth

Enamel is the outermost protective surface of the teeth, and when it’s exposed to the acids and sugars produced by foods, it can start to wear away and lose cavity-fighting calcium and phosphate.

Fluoride prevents tooth decay by replacing and replenishing the calcium and phosphate still in the enamel. These three minerals combine to create fluorapatite, a strong defense against kids' cavities.

Fluoride in dental care products is an excellent preventative tool, but the more concentrated versions offered through treatments at the dentist provide even more teeth-strengthening potential.

Fluoride not only reduces the frequency and severity of kids' cavities but also the need for involved dental work and tooth extractions.

 

Make sure your child is reaping the benefits of fluoride treatments at Discovery Dental. Serving infants, children, and adolescents throughout the Eagle River, AK, area since 2013, they’re committed to fighting kids' cavities. Their preventative dentistry services include exams, teeth cleanings, early cavity detection, sealants, and kid-friendly instructions on proper brushing and flossing technique. Call (907) 622-5437 or visit their website to schedule an exam.

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