Is Too Much Fluoride Bad For Your Teeth?
True. Excess fluoride can cause a condition called dental fluorosis, causing stains on the teeth due to hypomineralization of the yellowish or brownish enamel. Parents need to pay attention to their children’s first brushing, to control the amount of fluoridated toothpaste and to prevent them from swallowing the toothpaste.
Does fluoride prevent cavities?
True. When it comes into contact with the tooth, it can make the enamel more resistant and thus gain a greater defense against the aggressions of acidic products formed by bacteria. These acids are the cause of the demineralization of tooth enamel, leading to the appearance of cavities.
This, together with saliva, has the ability (in a healthy environment) to favor the remineralization of teeth and thus prevent cavities.
Should children’s products not contain fluoride?
Myth. Both children and adults need fluoride for good tooth mineralization. However, the amounts must be adjusted and appropriate for each age. Thus, in the right amounts this has no contraindication in children nor does it present health risks. The amount of fluoridated toothpaste should be the size of a grain of rice (1000ppm) for babies and the size of a pea for children with permanent teeth (1450ppm).
