Fluoride- How does it work?

Pit & Fissure Sealants

Floss is the Boss

Brush Basics

What's the best way to brush?

Dental X-Rays

(From www.healthyteeth.org)

Fluoride is a natural element that can be found in many things, like the water we drink and the food we eat. In the 1940's, scientists began to notice that children who lived in places where fluoride occurred naturally in the water, had fewer dental cavities. Fluoride that is absorbed by your body is used by the cells that build your teeth to make stronger enamel. Topical fluoride - fluoride that is applied to the outside of the enamel - makes the crystals that form enamel more durable. Tooth enamel crystals that have fluoride are much more resistant to acid. They are less likely to breakdown and cause the tooth surface to become porous.

If your dentist recommends a fluoride treatment during your next dental visit, you'll be receiving topical protection. The fluoride your dentist puts in your mouth will help make the crystals in your tooth enamel stronger. Always use a toothpaste with fluoride. Look for the American or Canadian Dental Association seal of approval on the toothpaste tube in your bathroom.

See "Fluoride" for more information

Can Fluoride be bad for my Teeth?

Fluoride can cause dull discoloration of the teeth when taken in excessive amounts. This does not weaken the teeth but does cause cosmetic problems. Excess fluoride is virtually never a problem unless a person is consuming excessive fluoride preparations (usually swallowing fluoride rinse solutions). Fluoridation levels may vary considerably among local towns and cities in the United States.

In cities having high enough fluoride amounts in the drinking water extra fluoride should not be taken. Persons not drinking tap water may need additional fluoride supplementation in addition to regular tooth paste.

Despite claims by certain extremist, fluoride has never been shown to cause cancer or other serious medical problems in over 50 years of large scale use in public drinking water. It has greatly decreased the rate of tooth decay in areas it is used.

Pit & Fissure Sealants

The top surfaces of your teeth - where the chewing takes place - aren't smooth and flat. They are crisscrossed with tiny hills and valleys - called pits and fissures. These are places where plaque can build up safe from your toothbrush and dental floss. Some of the pits and fissures are so narrow that even a single bristle from your toothbrush can't get deep enough to clean them out.

One method of preventing cavities from developing in the pits and fissures is to seal them off with a special varnish called a pit and fissure sealant. If your dentist determines that you need a pit and fissure sealant to help protect your teeth from decay, some special steps are taken to prepare the teeth first. Your dentist will clean the tooth first, then apply a mild acid solution to 'etch' the surface and make it easier for the pit and fissure sealant to stick. (The etching solution is the blue gel in the sealant video below). The whole procedure is quick and painless. Keeping the area dry and away from your saliva during the application is very important. If the tooth gets wet, the sealant might not stick properly. Once everything is ready, your dentist 'paints' the sealant right over the pits and fissures on the tooth surface. (Do you see it being painted on with a cotton swab in the video?). A special kind of light cures the sealant and makes it ready for use.

Click to learn more about Sealants

Floss is the Boss

Brushing alone isn't enough to clean all of the plaque from the surface of your teeth. Interproximal areas (those places in between your teeth) and below the gumline are two spots where the toothbrush can't reach and plaque can build up. These are areas that are more susceptible to cavities. Daily flossing and regular visits to your dentist are the only effective ways to remove this plaque.

Dental fact: did you know that failing to floss means up to 35% of your tooth surface goes uncleaned?

Dental floss is a man-made fiber (usually made of nylon) that comes on a spool. Ask your parents or your dentist how to correctly use dental floss if you're not sure.

Brush Basics

Brush gently

Brushing your teeth is one of the most effective ways of removing plaque from the exposed surfaces of your teeth. Do not use excessive force or a hard brush, as this may injure your gums. Contrary to what you might think, a gentle brushing with a soft-bristle toothbrush is just as effective (and less damaging!) than a vigorous scrubbing with a stiff-bristle toothbrush. Your tooth enamel is relatively thin. Years of aggressive brushing can begin to wear away the enamel and make the teeth sensitive. (Remember, the enamel on your teeth does not contain nerve fibers, but the dentin layer underneath does.) Brushing too hard can also damage your gums.

Brush often

Brush after every meal or snack. This will ensure that plaque does not get a foot-hold onto your tooth surfaces and will not have an opportunity to convert into tartar.

Don't forget to brush your tongue!

The surface of the tongue also needs to be cleaned with a brush, to remove accumulated debris.

What's the best way to brush?

There are different styles of toothbrushing. The important thing to remember is that an effective brushing cleans every exposed tooth surface in a gentle, massaging motion. How long do you take to brush your teeth? Most people think they brush for at least a minute or two, but in reality they brush for 30 seconds or less. Time yourself and see how you do. An effective brushing takes 2 - 3 minutes.

Choosing a toothbrush

Choose a medium or soft-medium variety of toothbrush bristles. The brush should have a straight handle, or may be forward-angled. A small head is always better, enabling you to reach even the farthest corners of your mouth.

Replace your toothbrush as soon as the bristles begin to open-out, usually in 6 to 8 weeks if the brush is used correctly. The amount of paste required to brush is very minimal, usually described as pea-sized.

As an old saying goes Be true to your teeth, or they will be false to you!

Nova Scotia Dental Association @ www.healthyteeth.org.
Text has been modified & reformatted to enhance viewability. To visit this site directly (and leave Doctors Corner) select link above. This is an excellent noncommercial site providing basic but very useful information on various dental topics.