HOME

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Getting Enough Fluoride for Your Teeth

New York City added fluoride to its water in 1964, around 1.0 ppm. This means a liter of drinking water contains at least 1 mg of fluoride, the adequate daily intake for children 4 to 8 years old.

Drinking fluoridated water is a type of systemic fluoridation, where fluoride makes its way into the system. Although fluoride is often associated with dental health, virtually any type of bone can benefit from it, but in trace amounts. As a result, precious fluoride that could have benefitted teeth is diverted to other bone structures in the body. This means you have to get your fluoride directly on your pearly whites to make the most out of its benefits.

Dentists offer topical fluoridation, which involves the direct application of fluoride onto the teeth. This comes in the form of gels, foams, rinses; toothpaste is also a good example of topical fluoridation. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends the use of topical fluoride products with its Seal of Acceptance for safe and effective application.

Regardless of where you get your fluoride, fluoridation in general is no substitute for proper oral hygiene. Regular brushing and flossing, as well as visits to the dentist, usually suffice in keeping a healthy set of choppers. Fluoride can help, provided that it's consumed in adequate amounts, but don't trade it for your brush and floss.

No comments:

Post a Comment