Find out just how much fluoride is enough to protect your child’s smile.
No one wants their child to deal with cavities. So what if we could tell you that there’s a simple way to provide additional protection Childrens Pediatricianfor your child’s growing smile? Your Ashburn pediatric dentist recommends that your child gets the proper amount of fluoride in their diet to prevent decay.
What is fluoride and why is it important for my child’s smile?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring compound derived from the element fluorine that helps reverse early signs of tooth decay and prevents cavities from forming. The bacteria found in plaque produces acid, which eats away at healthy enamel. Fluoride’s job is to prevent the acid from eroding enamel by actually remineralizing the outer layers of the tooth. Therefore, in order to keep your child’s teeth healthy and cavity-free, they need to incorporate fluoride into their daily consumption.
How much fluoride should my child get?
Since about 60 percent of Americans have fluoridated water through their household taps, this has been an easy way for both children and adults to get the proper amount of fluoride to protect their teeth. However, talk to your Ashburn pediatric dentist about whether the local water contains enough fluoride to be beneficial for your child’s oral health. Most tap water should contain between 0.7 and 1.2 ppm (ppm stands for parts fluoride per million parts of water).
There is also fluoridated bottled water that your children can drink. Check to make sure that the water you are purchasing from the store, however, has between 0.6 and 1.0 ppm of fluoride.
Also, look for toothpastes and rinses that contain fluoride and make sure your child uses these oral products daily to get the most benefit.
What if my child isn’t getting enough fluoride?
If your child doesn’t get enough fluoride through water consumption, your Ashburn pediatric dentist has the answer. During routine visits we can apply a fluoride gel over your child’s teeth for a few minutes so your child can reap the full benefits of fluoride. We can also prescribe fluoride tablets for your child to take each day.
If it’s time to schedule your child’s next routine visit with their Ashburn pediatric dentist then call Ashburn Pediatric Dental Center today. Be proactive in keeping your child’s smile healthy.