Fluorine: How Does It Help Prevent Cavities?

For a long time , fluoride has helped prevent gaps. In addition to brushing your teeth and controlling your diet, the use of this element is one of the most important ways you can protect your teeth from cavities.

But do you know how to use this mineral? How and when should you use it? Can it be harmful to use in some cases?

It is important to find the answers to these questions. Therefore, we will tell you all about it in this article.

What is fluorine?

Fluoride is a natural mineral found in the earth’s surface, water sources and certain foods. You can also find it in animal products like salmon, sardines and liver or in vegetable products like tea, tomatoes, potatoes and spinach.

In addition to incorporating it into your diet through natural sources, you can also add this mineral to several products as supplements. Since specialists have shown that fluoride helps prevent gaps, some communities use it in the water to reduce the impact of this problem. That way, the water already has fluoride in it, as well as salts and milk.

You can find it in dental care products such as toothpaste, mouthwash and dental floss , among other things . Likewise, it is in materials that dentists use at the clinic to prevent and treat problems.

The human body has metabolic mechanisms that regulate and control the uptake, use and excretion of this element. We retain most of the fluoride in our bones and teeth; and a small portion in the white tissues. We excrete the excess amount through the urine and even smaller amounts through sweat and feces.

What are gaps?

Holes affect both children and adults. Specifically, it is a problem that affects the minerals on the surfaces of the teeth. The microorganisms in the mouth metabolize the sugars in our diet and produce acids, which are able to attack the inorganic parts of the teeth.

The hard tissue is demineralized. As a result, the teeth lose their structure. When this process begins, you may notice an opaque white spot that darkens as the damage progresses.

If you do not treat it and the demineralization continues, cavities begin to appear in the teeth, which continue to grow larger and deeper. Later, the surface of the teeth becomes softer and the damage can affect the pulp. This gives rise to painful symptoms or an infectious process.

How Fluoride Can Help Prevent Holes

Fluoride helps prevent gaps through two main mechanisms of action:

• On the one hand , the element is chemically combined with the crystals in the enamel, which converts hydroxyapatite to fluorapatite. A substance that is more resistant to descaling. This reaction is neither definitive nor stable, and therefore it is important to expose oneself frequently to this mineral.

• On the other hand, the presence of this element in the mouth reduces the conversion of bacterial plaque. This reduces the production of the acids responsible for the demineralization of the teeth. In addition , it inhibits microorganisms that adhere to themselves, making it difficult for this harmful film to bind together and accumulate.

You can incorporate fluoride into your body can through two primary methods. One is systemic, where you ingest the mineral by drinking fluoride-containing water, eating foods or supplements that contain it. The body then distributes it through the bloodstream and deposits it in the tooth structures where it is formed.

The effect of fluoride on the body in these ways is important when the teeth are formed in infants and young children. This is because it combines with enamel crystals, and as a result, the fabric is much more resistant to holes.

The other way is local. This means that the mineral is applied to the surfaces of our teeth and is in the mouth. Flour reaches the teeth in this way through toothpaste, mouthwash or dental floss that contains it. We can also get it through varnish or gel that the dentist applies in the clinic.

It is important to mention that fluoride also has a therapeutic effect in case of illness as it is able to remineralize the enamel once a person has lost several minerals.

Hazards from excessive use of dental fluoride

Excessive use of fluoride can be harmful. Its effect on the teeth depends to a large extent on the concentration. So if it is in smaller amounts, the effect is beneficial. If, on the other hand, the amount is too large, it can cause side effects such as dental injuries.

Fluorosis is a problem that occurs when we expose a tooth to too much fluoride while it is forming. In this case , the teeth appear to be colored with white or brown lines. The enamel is damaged and the tooth may have depressions or deformations in more severe cases.

In general, communities incorporate fluoride into their water sources to reduce the occurrence of cavities in the teeth of the population through safe concentrations. In these cases, it is not necessary to take fluoride systemically through supplements.

The optimum concentration of this mineral in drinking water is 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per liters (mg / L). These values ​​are, in addition to using fluoride toothpaste usually, enough to protect the mouth from the problems without any risk.

In fact, toothpaste tends to contain levels of the mineral that are between 1000 and 1200 parts per tooth. million (ppm).

If the drinking water does not contain fluoride, your dentist may suggest that you take fluoride supplements, especially in infancy, when your teeth are forming. The dentist will determine the amount and way you use it, which will be consistent with your age (or the child’s age) and the actual risk of cavities.

In addition, if your dentist deems it necessary, he or she may suggest that you use a toothpaste with a higher fluoride percentage or mouthwash that contains this mineral.

Other tips for preventing cavities

Although fluoride helps prevent cavities, it is not the only thing you should keep in mind when it comes to taking care of your oral hygiene. Below we give you a list of other methods that can help prevent this problem from occurring.

• Toothbrushing : Cleaning all sides of all your teeth is essential to remove the bacterial plaque that is causing this problem. You should clean them at least twice a day with a brush with soft bristles and a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
• Flossing : This is necessary to supplement your dental hygiene. You will be able to reach the areas of the teeth that the toothbrush cannot reach. You should use it at least once a day. You can also clean these difficult areas with interdental toothbrushes and rinsers.

• Balanced diet : Eating healthy and limiting how much simple sugar, ultra-processed foods and sodas you consume can help prevent gaps.
• Chewing sugar-free chewing gum : It helps the teeth to cleanse themselves through the saliva that the mouth generates by chewing. In addition, they usually contain sugar substitutes like xylitol, which help prevent cavities.

More advice

• Visit the dentist often : Regular dental checkups can help detect and treat any problems well in advance. Professional cleaning and fluoride treatment are an extra effort that protects your teeth.
• Sealing in holes and cracks : The dentist does this by placing a special material on the guiding surfaces of the teeth. That way, they are easier to clean and prevent bacteria from accumulating in areas that are difficult to clean.

• Drink enough fluids : Patients suffering from xerostomia or dry mouth should frequently drink fluids and use saliva substitutes to combat this effect, which promotes the formation of cavities.
• Treat problems that reduce the pH level in the mouth : You need to identify and treat diseases such as bulimia, anorexia and acid regurgitation, as specialists associate it with cavities.

Follow your dentist’s advice regarding fluoride

Fluoride helps prevent cavities. You should take advantage of this when you need to take care of your oral hygiene! Although not very common, excessive intake of this mineral can be harmful , especially when teeth are still forming.

Therefore, when you need products to care for your mouth and prevent cavities, it is best to consult with your dentist.

This professional will be able to assess the special conditions of your mouth, your habits and the presence or absence of fluoride in the water. This will help them to recommend the best products. They will also explain how to use them and for how long.

With that in mind , frequent dental visits are the best way to protect your mouth. Talk to a professional dentist about any concerns you may have about using fluoride, and trust the advice you get so you get a smile that both looks healthy and feels healthy!