Act Fluoride Rinse

Q: Hello Dr. Van Gurp. I think most parents recognize that fluoride is a proven way to protect the dental health of children, mainly by making teeth more resistant to cavities.

But now you want to talk about how fluoride available to adults.

Van Gurp: That's Dr. Research indicates now that everyone - children and adults - can benefit from fluoride.

Q: Now, when you talk about fluoride, you focus on fluoride in water supplies in the Community, in toothpaste or are you talking about supplementation?

Van Gurp: It depends. For the healthy individual with no history of dental problems or any other current, fluoridated water and toothpaste may be sufficient.

But for the dental patient who has problems with cavities, sensitive teeth and / or gum disease, fluoride supplementation may be prudent.

Q: Most everyone knows that fluoride helps prevent tooth decay in young children because their teeth are still forming. How fluoride help the patient to adults whose teeth are already formed?

Van Gurp: The positive effects of fluoride against dental caries in adults are of two kinds. First, topically in areas where a cavity is just beginning to form, fluoride can cause remineralization or repair of the tooth. It can prevent the cavity expands or even reverse the process.

Second, systemic fluoride in saliva is a reservoir of fluoride that can seep into the surface of the tooth to prevent cavity formation.

In addition, none of the other agents have been carefully reviewed and considered safe and effective for the prevention of dental caries.

Q: What if I already have caps or crowns on teeth? Do crowns protect my teeth against decay new?

Van Gurp: A common misconception. Even if you have crowns on some or all of your teeth, cavities can be formed even at the margin of the crown - where the crown meets the tooth.

Degradation and recurring on teeth that are a crown or bridge restoration and full threat may require expensive replacement. Fluoride can help to protect these critical areas and help protect the investment that patients have already made in crowns and bridges.

Q: What about the roots of teeth? Are they more or less susceptible to tooth decay?

Van Gurp: When it comes to protecting cavities in adults, we must take into account the fact that many adults have gum recession, where the gum was torn exposing teeth roots.

This can be a problem in two important ways. First, the roots are not as mineralized as the crowns of natural teeth. In other words, the roots are not as strong and are more susceptible to cavities. Thus, the cavities on the root surface can change rapidly. As the crowns of teeth, fluoride can also be incorporated into the roots of teeth, making them stronger and more resistant to decay.

Q: How does fluoride to help people with sensitive teeth?

Van Gurp: This is the second issue related to gingival recession. Roots may be very sensitive, especially to cold. Microscopically, consider the roots as being porous with channels or tubes that carry the nerve of the tooth. The studies show that with regular treatment of these areas with stannous fluoride, the pores of the tubes are filled with fluoride ions.

The fluoride that does penetrate into the pores (tubules) is a catalyst that helps build strong and resistant minerals on the surface of roots and dentin tubules. Used to block or inhibit stimuli f.