Dental fluorosis is damage to the teeth caused by the consumption of too much fluoride while the teeth are forming. Fluorosis most commonly affects the adult teeth because they form at the pivotal time when a child begins using a fluoridated toothpaste for the first eight years of life. Once the teeth are formed and erupt into the mouth, they are no longer susceptible to fluorosis.
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It’s no secret, cleaning your teeth with dental braces is a lot more work. That being said, it is a very important time to make sure you are doing the best job you can because your teeth and gums are more susceptible to cavities and gum inflammation with all that hardware on. Below is a list of what you should be doing at home to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible while wearing braces.
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Fluoride works by strengthening the enamel of your teeth (which is the outer layer of your teeth) to prevent the penetration of oral bacteria and acids. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in the earth and is in some areas naturally occurring in water. In some municipalities, fluoride is added to the water in around 0.7 ppm (parts per million) to help reduce cavities in the population. Fluoride can also be administered topically in the form of toothpaste, mouthwash and topical applications at your dental office. Fluoride administered in office may consist of mouth rinse, fluoride gel, varnish or foam.
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Even before baby teeth begin to erupt, around the age of 6-10 months when the first baby tooth comes through, it is essential to start a regular oral hygiene regimen with your baby at home. It is recommended to use a damp cloth or piece of gauze to wipe your baby’s gums after bottles and before bed to remove sugars from the milk. As soon as the first baby tooth erupts, you can begin using a small toothbrush and non-fluoridated toothpaste to brush. The baby teeth will erupt between the age of 6-10 months until around 25-33 months. Baby teeth may be susceptible to cavities as soon as they break through the gum tissue into the mouth, so it is vital to have a good oral hygiene regimen.
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It is a mineral that is found in foods, water, and soil. In a dental office, fluoride comes in a higher concentration and in different forms. It can come as a thickened type of gel, as a foam, in liquid form or as a varnish to be applied to teeth. For daily use, it comes in low concentrations in toothpaste and mouthwash.
