Fluoride
Yes or no?
Fluorine is a chemical element that many may have heard about. Not only for its presence in toothpaste, for the snacks or pills that some made at school, but for the doubt that remains whether we should use it on children.
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Why can fluorine be an ally?
Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, as it helps to fix calcium and phosphorus. This compound has the ability to strengthen tooth enamel, making them more resistant to the effect of acids and less prone to tooth decay. In addition, it favors remineralization of the teeth and has an antibacterial action, attacking bacteria that “like” to colonize the dental surface.
But this does not mean that if there is fluorine, there should be no daily oral hygiene!
When and how to use?
It is now known that the benefit of fluoride for teeth is topical rather than systemic. Excessive intake of systemic fluoride during tooth formation can manifest as fluorosis (spots on the teeth, usually white in color, but which may also be brown).
The need for fluoride varies. A person who is more susceptible to tooth decay needs more fluoride. After evaluation by the oral hygienist and/or dentist, it may be necessary to adjust the concentration of fluoride in toothpaste or make more specific treatments in the office, such as fluorine gel or application of fluoride varnish.
As it is a natural mineral that is present in some foods and in the water we consume (in Portugal fluorides are not added to the water, it exists naturally in different concentrations, it is in toothpaste that dads and mothers can have more control.
The problem is not the amount of fluoride in the toothpaste, but rather how much you put into the toothbrush.
The amount of fluoride in the paste indicated up to 6 years is 1000-1500 ppm of fluoride. From 6 years you can use adult paste. Many pastes have smaller amounts (e.g., 500 ppm), because they have flavors appealing to the child, who tends to ingest more. However, if we know how to regulate the amount placed in the brush and if we do not leave the paste within reach of the child, there is no longer this risk.
In relation to the quantity of paste, the trick is:
- For infants, the quantity must be equal to one grain of rice;
- In children, we should put the amount equivalent to a pea or proportional to the fingernail of the little finger
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