The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends the use of fluoride toothpaste at the first sign of tooth eruption using only a smear of tooth paste. The recommended toothpaste is one that has the ADA seal.
Fluoride is a mineral in your bones and teeth. It’s also found naturally in the water, soil, plants, rocks and air. Fluoride binds or promotes remineralization readily to the outer layer of the teeth’s enamel, that have been demineralized forming a protective layer (fluorohydroxyapatite) from saliva against acid. It’s also added in small amounts to public water supplies in the United States and in many other countries. This process is called water fluoridation. It is also used in many over-the-counter (OTC) products such as toothpaste, mouth rinses and supplements.
If your child has many cavities or is at high risk, then a prescription mouth rinse with fluoride or prescription toothpaste may be recommended. These usually have a higher concentration of fluoride than OTC options. Fluoride is beneficial to teeth because it helps to:
- Rebuild (remineralize) weakened tooth enamel
- Slow down the loss of minerals from tooth enamel
- Reverse early signs of tooth decay
- Prevent the growth of harmful oral bacteria
When bacteria in your mouth break down sugar and carbohydrates, they produce acids that eat away at the minerals in your tooth enamel. This loss of minerals is called demineralization. Weakened tooth enamel leaves your teeth vulnerable to bacteria that cause cavities. Fluoride helps to re-mineralize your tooth enamel, which can prevent cavities and reverse early signs of tooth decay.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average number of missing or decaying teeth in 12-year-old children in the United States dropped by 68 percent from the late 1960s through the early 1990s. This followed the introduction to and expansion of fluoridated water in communities, and the addition of fluoride to toothpastes and other dental products.