How fluoride helps prevent decay, how much toothpaste to use at each age, when fluoride varnish helps and what to know about fluoride in water.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral, and it is one of the main reasons tooth decay has become less common over recent decades. Used in the right amounts, it strengthens teeth and helps repair the very earliest stages of decay.
Every time you eat or drink something sugary, bacteria in plaque produce acid that draws minerals out of the enamel. Saliva helps put them back. Fluoride makes that repair process more effective and makes the enamel more resistant to the next acid attack. It works most effectively when it is in regular, low-level contact with the teeth, which is why twice-daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste matters so much.
UK guidance in Delivering Better Oral Health recommends:
The fluoride level is printed on the tube. Brush last thing at night and on one other occasion, and spit out afterwards rather than rinsing, so the fluoride stays on the teeth for longer.
Fluoride varnish is painted onto the teeth by a dental professional. It sets quickly and releases fluoride over several hours. National guidance recommends it at least twice a year for children from age three, and more often for children and adults at higher risk of decay. It takes a minute or two to apply.
For older children and adults at high risk of decay, for example because of dry mouth, exposed roots or frequent new cavities, a dentist can prescribe toothpaste with 2,800ppm or 5,000ppm fluoride.
All water contains some natural fluoride, and some areas of England also have fluoride added to their supply through community schemes. Levels vary by area, and your water supplier can tell you the level where you live.
At the levels used in UK toothpaste and water schemes, fluoride is considered safe by public health bodies. The main risk of too much fluoride while teeth are forming is dental fluorosis, which usually shows as faint white marks on the enamel. That is why young children should use only a small amount of toothpaste and be supervised when brushing.
If you are unsure which toothpaste suits you or your children, ask at your next check-up. Dental Wellness Mill Hill is at 46 The Broadway, NW7 3LH. Call 020 3930 4900, email smile@dentalwellnessmillhill.co.uk or book online.
.avif)
