When Is Fluoride a Good Idea for Your Child’s Teeth?

Posted June 11, 2020

Caring for your child’s teeth can sometimes seem complicated. On top of teaching them how to practice good dental hygiene, you also have to be vigilant in limiting their exposure to sugary foods and beverages, and noticing signs that they might be experiencing a dental problem. Fortunately, there are several professional treatments and services that are designed specifically to offer better protection for your child’s teeth. For example, with topical fluoride treatment, many of our young patients are able to avoid cavity development when their teeth or tooth enamel become especially at-risk.

The point of topical fluoride treatments

The main goal of fluoride treatment is to strengthen your child’s tooth enamel, which is the highly mineralized protective layer around their healthy teeth. Tooth enamel is the most resilient substance our bodies produce, and for good reason – it protects our teeth from constant attacks by harmful oral bacteria and certain nutritional acids. As children are still learning to care for their teeth on a daily basis, their teeth can be more vigorously attacked by harmful bacteria, making their enamel especially weak and at-risk of developing a cavity (a product of tooth decay). By applying fluoride to the surfaces of their teeth, we may be able to help strengthen the enamel before this occurs.

When your child might benefit from fluoride treatment

Fluoride treatment can be of significant benefit when your child’s tooth enamel has grown weak, but it isn’t a routine treatment, such as dental cleaning, that should be a constant part of your child’s preventive care. Aside from the small amounts that should be included in your child’s toothpaste, fluoride is typically only recommended when your child has need for it. During each dental checkup and cleaning appointment, we’ll carefully examine your child’s teeth and the integrity of their tooth enamel to determine if fluoride treatment may be a good idea.

Additional measures for protecting your child’s teeth

One of the reasons why you shouldn’t rely too heavily on fluoride treatments to protect your child’s teeth is because, when healthy and properly maintained, they should be able to protect themselves. By brushing and flossing their teeth every day, children can prevent the excess buildup of oral bacteria that weaken their tooth enamel. With professional cleaning, we can also remove tartar, or calcified plaque, that can’t be removed with toothpaste and water.

Learn if your child’s teeth can benefit from fluoride

Along with regularly good dental hygiene and consistent preventive dental care, fluoride treatments can be a good way to protect your child’s teeth from developing a cavity, or worse. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX today at 214-321-4880. We proudly serve patients who live around Casa Linda and all surrounding Dallas communities.