Tooth sensitivity is the sudden sharp and painful feeling in the teeth and an extended discomfort when teeth come in contact with cold air, acidic or sweet food or drinks. Among the reasons for the appearance of tooth sensitivity are dental procedures such as tooth extraction, crown replacement, professional cleaning, bleaching of teeth, grinding of teeth, worn out enamel, etc. Sometimes the patient can’t prevent the appearance of tooth sensitivity because it happens out of their control – as a result of dental procedures that must be performed by the dental hygienist or the dentist.
However, lots can be done to prevent problems from happening in the first place. Apart from regular cleaning, brushing, and flossing of the teeth, the use of appropriate toothpaste is crucial. To prevent it or to get rid of tooth sensitivity, fluoride-based toothpaste like the Fluoridex toothpaste should be used.
Why fluoride, you wonder? Here is everything you need to know about this substance and how to use it at home or have a fluoride treatment at the dentist’s office.
What Is Fluoride?
It is a naturally found mineral that exists in all water sources on the planet. It is the most essential oral health treatment that has been used for decades.
How Does It Work?
It strengthens the enamel when it comes in contact with it and helps replenish the lost calcium and phosphorus in the enamel in a process called remineralization. Also, it prevents cavities from forming and fights the bacteria that want to nest in the mouth. However, it should be used after the second year, since otherwise, it might cause problems in toddlers’ mouths and their overall health.
It can be consumed in small doses through selected foods and drinks, and in this way, it enters the bloodstream and becomes a part of the structure of the permanent teeth. Moreover, when fluoride is swallowed, it becomes part of the saliva, thus enables the strengthening of the teeth from the outside.
Add paragraph text here.
On the other hand, it can be applied directly to the teeth in the form of fluoride toothpaste. When it is applied on the teeth, it performs remineralization. In fact, it helps speed the remineralization process.
For children who are prevented from drinking fluoridated water, fluoride supplements are prescribed so that they can intake enough fluoride. The age of children who can consume such supplements is from 6 months to 16 years. Before that, it poses a clear danger to the baby’s health, and after 16 years, it won’t have the effect as the permanent teeth are already structured the way they are going to be for the upcoming years.
Finally, there are fluoride treatments that a dentist performs at his office. These treatments don’t allow bacteria to cause problems in the mouth. These treatments can be in the form of a gel, foam, or varnish. It is good to note that these fluoride treatments performed by a dentist have a much higher strength than the fluoride products that can be bought at the chemist’s.
How Much of Fluoride Intake is Safe?
The proper use of fluoride won’t create any problems. However, certain precautions must be taken into consideration. Therefore, the tablets containing fluoride that should be consumed should be kept safely away from young children. A child should take from 0.25 to 1mg of fluoride per day based on the child’s risk of caries. Their age and the amount of fluoride in the water they are consuming daily.
Also, the daily use of fluoride toothpaste like the Fluoridex Toothpaste is recommended. A pea-sized amount is enough. And for children under the age of 6, a careful administration of the product is more than necessary because a higher dose of fluoride might be toxic to them. For example, a 2-year-old child that weighs about 10 kg a toxic dose of fluoride is 320 mg, whereas, for an 8-year-old who weighs around 20kg, the toxic dose is 655mg.
Too much fluoride in the body can cause a cosmetic defect knows as fluorosis, which can be seen as white specks on the tooth. Also, too much fluoride can make the enamel brown; however, this happens only in places where there are great quantities of fluoride in the water, so the children consume it directly from the water.
Fluoride and Tooth Sensitivity
As the fluoride strengthens the enamel of the teeth, it helps largely in the prevention and battle with tooth sensitivity. Using toothpaste with fluoride in it also decreases the sensations sent to the nerve, which reduces the discomfort to a great extent.
