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Fluoride is one of the most common ingredients in your regular toothpaste that helps prevent tooth decay in many ways. Given the several triggers that may cause damage to your teeth; the substance provides adequate protection for your pearly whites.
Fluoride is beneficial for both- adult as well as children's teeth. Experts had formerly believed that fluoride worked by simply strengthening the teeth in their formative years which lead to dental hygiene companies targeting children as their prime clients. However, recent research has overthrown the theory and confirmed that topical fluoride helps fight tooth decay for people of all age groups.
How does Fluoride help prevent tooth decay?
There are three ways in which fluoride helps combat tooth decay. These are:
Fluoride encourages the remineralization process of the teeth. Any fluoride present in the saliva will get absorbed onto the surface of a tooth which is suffering from the process of demineralization or tooth decay. The fluoride present will attract other minerals like calcium to the location, thereby, speeding up the process of reminirelazation.
However, the substance must be present in the patient's saliva for the process to take place. Drinking fluoridated tap water throughout the day could be a means of keeping fluoride levels high in your saliva. Also, brushing your teeth with a tooth paste containing fluoride at least three times a day will be more beneficial then simply brushing a single time during the day.
Fluoride can fortify your teeth by making them more decay resistant: The new mineral which is created by the remineralization process induced by the Fluoride is usually harder then the one that was formed along with the tooth. This tougher mineral makes teeth much resistant to decay.
Generally, tooth minerals consist of hydroxyapatite and carbonate hydroxyapatite. The mineral that's produced through the remineralization process induced by Fluoride is known as fluorapatite. This substance is harder then any other tooth minerals and is even more resistant to the decay causing acids present in the mouth.
Fluoride inhabits oral bacteria's' ability to produce acids. It has also been noticed to significantly impede the rate at which the bacteria produce acids within the mouth. This is because; fluoride hampers the bacteria's ability to metabolize the sugars present. The less quantity of sugar consumed by the bacteria also results in less production of harmful acids or demineralization which is harmful for teeth.
However, even with the many benefits of Fluoride, you should never swallow a toothpaste and always endeavor to spit it out after the end of a brushing session. Toothpastes which contain the substance should be kept out of reach of children and should only be dispensed to them under supervision of an adult.
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