What is Fluoride?

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally. It helps to protect your teeth from cavities. However, it’s not just found in your toothpaste.

In the 1940′s, it became known that the right amount of fluoride could help in cavity prevention. It’s now a common practice to add fluoride to community water

Fluoride can also be found in other beverages, some foods, supplements, mouthwashes, and of course, toothpaste.

Fluoride has become an important part of dental health, creating strong teeth and preventing tooth decay.

Flouride-Free Toothpaste

Although fluoride can play a key role in cavity prevention, there are some cases where you may opt for fluoride-free toothpaste. You’ve probably heard that even too much of a good thing can be bad… it’s true! Too much fluoride can lead to dental fluorosis. Other reasons to choose a fluoride-free toothpaste would be if you have any allergies to the mineral, or at the guidance of a physician due to certain medical issues.

Fluoride-free toothpaste is also a good option for children two and under because this age group has an increased risk for ingesting too much fluoride. They don’t quite understand how to spit out the toothpaste yet, and since a lot of the products for this age taste good, they end up swallowing it.

More Questions Regarding What is Fluoride and More

If you ever have any questions about your dental regime, talk to your dentist; they are the experts in healthy mouths and beautiful smiles! For more information on Fluoride watch this video from the ADA.

Contact Suburban Essex Dental to schedule a dental consultation today. We are located in West Orange, New Jersey and are rated a “Top NJ Dentist.”