How Much Fluoride Should Be in Your Toothpaste?
Introduction
Toothpaste is an essential part of a healthy dental routine. With so many choices, it might be tough to tell which one is the best. Several toothpastes can contain fluoride, a mineral that is very naturally present in soil as well as rocks. So how much fluoride should you use in your toothpaste?
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral that is found in some foods, water, and soil. It is known for making tooth enamel stronger and preventing cavities. Fluoride works by remineralizing your teeth’s enamel, which makes them more resistant to tooth decay caused by bacteria that make acid.
The Benefits of Fluoride in Toothpaste
Fluoride is beneficial for your teeth because:
- It can rebuild (remineralize) weak tooth enamel,
- It can slow down the loss of minerals from tooth enamel,
- Also this can reverse early signs of tooth decay, and stop harmful oral bacteria from growing.
When bacteria in your mouth break down sugar and carbs, they make acids that eat away at the minerals in your tooth enamel. Demineralization is the process by which minerals are taken away. When your tooth enamel is weak, bacteria that cause cavities can easily get into your teeth.
How Much Fluoride Should Be in Your Toothpaste?
Dental associations and practitioners concur that fluoride toothpaste should be used when a baby’s first tooth comes in. Also, instead of fluoride-free or very low-fluoride toothpaste, children’s toothpaste should be used (1,000 ppm).
For children under the age of three, use a “smear” of toothpaste when they brush their teeth. Put no more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the brush for kids ages three to six. Adults shouldn’t use high-fluoride toothpaste every day unless they have a medical condition that makes them more likely to get cavities or they wear fixed, complex braces for several months at a time. In these instances, Duraphat toothpaste is recommended and prescribed.
The Risks of Too Much Fluoride
Too much fluoride can cause fluorosis of the teeth. Fluorosis is a disease that causes tooth enamel to change color. Most of the time, this discoloration shows up as white, or occasionally brown spots. Fluorosis is most commonly caused when youngsters in their teeth-forming toothpaste that’s years swallow instead of spitting it out.
The majority of instances of dental fluorosis are mild to moderate. In moderate to severe instances, the enamel alterations are more pronounced and widespread, and the teeth develop black patches and pits. The chance of getting extreme fluoride from toothpaste is low. Children are more likely to swallow toothpaste, so they are more likely to get too much fluoride.
Conclusion
Fluoride is an essential component of toothpaste that helps strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities. However, in some individuals, it will be necessary to use Duraphat toothpaste to treat cavities and to prevent decay. British Chemist stocks Duraphat toothpaste for your convenience. Please remember to consult your dental practitioner for advice on treating oral and dental issues.