How Can My Kids Get Enough Fluoride To Protect Their Teeth?
There are different ways to ensure your child has access to the appropriate amount of fluoride as their teeth develop, including the following:
Fluoride Treatment For Kids
A professional fluoride treatment is an excellent way to expose the teeth to fluoride. These treatments are quick, painless, and done in your dentist’s office. It involves applying a gel or foam directly to your child’s teeth and allowing it to sit for some time before eating or drinking.
Fluoride treatments are typically done after your child’s routine teeth cleaning. Your dentist first focuses on removing plaque and tartar during a deep clean, then applies the treatment to the teeth.
Using Fluoride Toothpaste For Kids
Your dentist may recommend using fluoridated toothpaste for babies as soon as their teeth come in. There is toothpaste designed for kids with less fluoride and tasty flavors that make brushing fun and easy.
To start, only use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and supervise your kids as they brush. Teach them to spit out the excess toothpaste and rinse their mouths.
Fluoridated Drinking Water
In the United States, most public water supplies are fortified with fluoride, a process known as community water fluoridation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), water with fluoride levels of 0.7 milligrams per liter is optimal for preventing tooth decay.
Fluoride Supplements
In some cases, your dentist may recommend fluoride supplements for your child. Kids with a high risk for tooth decay and who do not have access to fluoridated drinking water may need a little help getting enough fluoride to strengthen their teeth. Tablets, liquids, and lozenges are available as a way to supplement a child’s diet.
Does Fluoride Have Any Risks?
Fluoride is incredibly beneficial to your child’s dental health in small amounts. However, consuming too much fluoride can pose some risks, including dental fluorosis.
Fluorosis causes faint white lines or marks on children’s teeth while they develop underneath the gums. If you follow your dentist’s recommendations, it is rare to consume enough fluoride to present serious risks.
Tips To Prevent Excessive Fluoride Consumption
If you’re worried about your child consuming too much fluoride, here are some things you can do:
- Only use a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste for brushing
- Supervise your child’s brushing techniques to minimize swallowing
- Show your child how to rinse their mouth and spit the water out
- Only give your child fluoride supplements if your dentist recommends it
- Do not use fluoride mouth rinses for young children
- Do not mix baby formula with fluoridated tap water
We Accept Most Dental Insurance
Absolute Dental is a preferred provider for most insurances, unions, and hotels that include: Aetna, Ameritas, Boon-Chapman, Caesars Palace, Cigna, Delta Dental, Diversified, Geha, Guardian, Harrah’s, HealthSCOPE Benefits, Health Plan of Nevada (HPN), Humana, Liberty, Met-Life, MGM-MIRAGE, Premier Access, The Standard, Station Casinos, Teachers Health Trust, United Concordia, United Healthcare, Venetian, and The Zenith. We also accept Medicaid.
If you do not see your dental insurance listed here, just give us a call to confirm!
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Make an Appointment With Our Pediatric Dentists
If you need affordable dental care for your child, Absolute Dental has special offers, Smile Saver membership discounts, and flexible payment options. Contact our team to learn about our pediatric services, including fluoride treatments!
