In this blog, we tell you everything you need to know about fluoride. What it is, why it is important, what it does to our teeth, where you can find it and how much we need. Fluoride is a mineral found naturally everywhere on earth, but you can probably get it from the dentist. Naturally, we don’t get enough fluoride naturally. That is why it is incorporated into toothpaste. This is because the mineral is very good for teeth and protects them from tooth decay.

What is fluoride in?

The mineral fluoride can be found all over the world. It is found in water, air, the earth’s soil and food. The base of fluoride is fluorine, which is toxic in its purest form (gas). Don’t worry, because in our food this substance is always linked to another substance, making it no longer toxic. We are then talking about fluoride. Most people know fluoride because the dentist says it is good for you. It is. But because you don’t get enough fluoride through food to actually protect your teeth, the substance is also added to oral care products such as toothpaste and mouthwash.

What does fluoride do?

But what exactly does fluoride do? Most toothpastes contain fluoride. This is because fluoride plays an important role in protecting your teeth from tooth decay. It is absorbed by tooth enamel and strengthens it. As a child, you may have received a bit with fluoride from the dentist. This is because fluoride particularly strengthens the enamel of baby teeth and adult teeth that have not come through. But adult teeth that have already come through also need fluoride to be more resistant to bacteria and acid attacks.

In addition, fluoride helps during demineralization and remineralization in your mouth. After eating or drinking, especially sugary foods, your mouth contains a lot of acids. These acids in your saliva can lead to demineralization, dissolving the calcium and phosphorus below the tooth surface. At times when your saliva is less acidic, fluoride helps remineralize your teeth. It hardens the minerals deposited, so your teeth are better protected from demineralization. So your teeth are strong and stay healthy longer. You can prevent cavities this way.

Consequences of too much or too little fluoride

Thus, fluoride has a major impact on protecting your teeth. Most toothpastes and mouthwashes contain fluoride. If you brush your teeth regularly and several times a day, you will not experience any problems from a fluoride deficiency or excess. Too little fluoride weakens tooth enamel, which can lead to tooth decay and cavities.

However, you can also ingest too much fluoride. You do not need to worry about getting excess fluoride from your diet or from normal amounts of toothpaste. You can get too much fluoride if, for example, you swallow mouthwash or eat large amounts of toothpaste. If you do this long-term or with excessive regularity, it can lead to browning of the teeth. In addition, you may experience problems with your kidneys, bones, nerves and muscles due to excessive intake of fluoride.

Opinion

How much fluoride do you need for healthy teeth? It varies from person to person. In particular, the amount of fluoride a person needs depends on age. For example, children’s toothpaste contains less fluoride than other toothpastes. This takes into account swallowing toothpaste. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has set an upper limit for all kinds of foods, including fluoride. This upper limit is the amount of fluoride a person can safely ingest. Those values are as follows:

• 1 to 3 years old: 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per day
• 4 to 8 years old: 2.5 milligrams of fluoride per day
• 9 to 14 years old: 5 milligrams of fluoride per day
• 14 years and older: 7 milligrams of fluoride per day

Want to know more about fluoride?

Are you unsure if you are getting enough fluoride? If so, you can always contact your dentist for advice. Want to know more about fluoride or are you looking for a new dentist? Feel free to contact Scheldebuurt Dental Clinic. You can contact us for different treatments and we are happy to tell you everything you need to know about fluoride.