Water Fluoridation to Prevent Dental Caries |
Posted: January 14, 2020 |
Water fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride into the water system to help prevent dental caries. Actually, it is the most effective way of preventing dental cavities. Fluoride helps strengthen the mineral structure of your teeth by repairing demineralisation before it develops into cavities. Brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste and fluoridated drinking water can help you prevent a number of dental problems.Fluoride can also reverse tooth decay when it is at its early stages. Here at Springvale Dental Clinic, we recommend water fluoridation instead of taking fluoride supplements because of the associated risks of dental fluorosis. Dental caries or cavities, also known as tooth decay is when your teeth breakdown because of acids from bacteria dissolving the dentin, cementum and enamel of the teeth. In most industrialized countries, dental caries are a significant health concern that affects over half of the population especially young children. Tooth decay occurs when acids from sugars in drinks and foods act on the enamel surface.Bacteria in the mouth produce acids that demineralise and destroy the outer and hard surfaces of your tooth. Fluoride is a chemical that is found naturally in the soil, rocks, and plants. It is also found in freshwater at slightly low levels. However, like so many earth compounds, it does not exist on its own but is created through a process that is scientific. Fluoride is a chemical ion of fluorine that is negatively and positively charged. The negative and positive charges help the ion combine with compounds like sodium to create cavity fighters. The presence of these fluoride compounds in your mouth strengthens your teeth and prevents tooth decay. Fluoride in water helps in fighting dental caries. The enamel of your tooth is the strong outer covering that is made from phosphate and calcium. Your salivary glands produce saliva that is loaded with phosphate and calcium to wash your teeth and keep them healthy and strong. When you consume foods and drinks like candy, juices, and crackers, cavities that cause bacteria start to feed on the carbohydrates present in these foods. The reaction produces acids that demineralises and destroys the enamel. The acids strip phosphate and calcium from the enamel of your tooth leaving you vulnerable to dental caries. Though your saliva tries to salvage this attack by adding back the phosphate and calcium that has been stripped from your teeth, it is not enough to prevent tooth cavities and decay. Now, this is the point where fluoride acts as the superhero. Your teeth are able to take in fluoride if it is present in your saliva. You can get fluoride in your saliva from toothpaste or drinking fluorinated water. When the fluoride reaches your enamel, it teams up with the phosphate and calcium to create a better and stronger defense mechanism for your teeth that prevents dental caries. Community water fluoridation is a common practice of adjusting the levels of fluoride in drinking water, especially in Australia. Fluoridation of water is supported by many national organisations such as the World Health Organization because the benefits from medical and scientific support outweigh the vocal risks. Water fluoridation Australia depends on the average annual temperature during the day. To get fluoride to fight for you, first, you need to find out if your drinking water contains fluoride. It is also available in some toothpaste and mouth rinses that you can ask your dentists to recommend. If your water is not fluoridated, our Dentists in Dandenong advise that you brush teeth three times a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride.
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