Fluoride is derived from the element fluorine, and it occurs naturally in water and many organic compounds. Among the most widely known properties of fluoride are its applications in preventing tooth decay.
Key elements in an effective dental health routine include brushing your teeth at least twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and visiting Fairfax, Virginia, dentist [link id=’21’ text=’Dr. Pamela Marzban’] at least once every six months for a thorough dental exam and professional teeth cleaning.
Fluoride is instrumental in preventing cavities, and it works by protecting and strengthening your teeth enamel. Fluoride also helps prevent the loss of essential minerals from your teeth.
Although the addition of extra fluoride to community water supplies has met with criticism over the years, scientific evidence suggests that fluoridated water has helped reduce tooth decay in the United States by upward of 50 percent since World War II. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called water fluoridation “one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.”
Overfluoridation is not a risk for most Americans. However, children under age 6 can be susceptible to a condition known as enamel fluorosis, which is caused by ingesting too much fluoride. Enamel fluorosis can cause white spots on the teeth, and it can be avoided by monitoring the use of toothpaste and mouthwash by children.
If you would like to schedule a thorough dental exam and teeth cleaning, please [link id=’50003′ text=’contact the office of Dr. Pamela Marzban’]. We welcome patients from the Burke, Fairfax and Fairfax Station, Virginia, areas.