Fluoride and Fluoridation: Topical Fluorides

FLUORIDE AND FLUORIDATION
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in all water sources, even the oceans.
The fluoride ion comes from the element fluorine. Fluorine, the 17th most abundant
element in the earth's crust, is never encountered in its free state in nature. It exists only
in combination with other elements as a fluoride compound.
Fluoride is effective in preventing and reversing the early signs of dental caries.
Researchers have shown that there are several ways through which fluoride achieves its
decay-preventive effects. It makes the tooth structure stronger, so teeth are more
resistant to acid attacks. Acid is formed when the bacteria in plaque break down sugars
and carbohydrates from the diet. Repeated acid attacks break down the tooth, which
causes cavities. Fluoride also acts to repair, or remineralize, areas in which acid attacks
have already begun. The remineralization effect of fluoride is important because it
reverses the early decay process as well as creating a tooth surface that is more resistant
to decay.
Fluoride is obtained in two forms: topical and systemic. Topical fluorides

strengthen teeth already present in the mouth making them more decay-resistant. Topical
fluorides include toothpastes, mouthrinses and professionally applied fluoride therapies.
Systemic fluorides are those that are ingested into the body and become incorporated
into forming tooth structures. Systemic fluorides can also give topical protection because
fluoride is present in saliva, which continually bathes the teeth. Systemic fluorides include
water fluoridation or dietary fluoride supplements in the form of tablets, drops or lozenges.
Topical fluorides
Self-Applied
One method of self-applied topical fluoride that is responsible for a significant drop
in the level of cavities since 1960 is use of a fluoride-containing toothpaste. Other sources
of self-applied fluoride are mouthrinses designed to be rinsed and spit out, either
prescribed by your dentist or an over-the-counter variety.
Professionally-Applied
Professionally-applied fluorides are in the form of a gel, foam or rinse, and are
applied by a dentist or dental hygienist during dental visits. These fluorides are more
concentrated than the self-applied fluorides, and therefore are not needed as frequently.
Systemic fluorides
Systemic fluorides such as community water fluoridation and dietary fluoride
supplements are effective in reducing tooth decay. These fluorides provide topical as well
as systemic protection because fluoride is present in the saliva.
Water fluoridation
Fluoride is present naturally in all water sources. Community water fluoridation is
simply the process of adjusting the fluoride content of fluoride-deficient water to the
recommended level for optimal dental health. That recommended level is 0.7 - 1.2
fluoride parts per million parts of water. Water fluoridation has been proven to reduce
decay in both children and adults. While water fluoridation is an extremely effective and
inexpensive means of obtaining the fluoride necessary for optimal tooth decay prevention,
not everyone lives in a community with a centralized, public or private water source that
can be fluoridated.
Dietary fluoride supplements

Dietary fluoride supplements (tablets, drops or lozenges) are available only by
prescription and are intended for use by children ages six months to 16 years living in
nonfluoridated areas. The correct dosage of fluoride should be prescribed by a dentist. It
is based on the natural fluoride concentration of the child's drinking water and the age of
the child. For optimum benefits, use of dietary fluoride supplements should begin when a
child is six months old and be continued daily until the child is 16 years old. The need for
taking dietary fluoride supplements over an extended period of time makes dietary
fluoride supplements less cost-effective than water fluoridation; therefore, dietary fluoride
supplements are considerably less practical as a wide-spread alternative to water
fluoridation as a public health measure.
No matter how you get the fluoride you need - whether it be through your drinking
water, supplements, toothpaste, mouthrinse or professionally applied fluoride -- you can
be confident that fluoride is silently at work fighting decay. Safe, convenient,
effective...however you describe it, fluoride fits naturally into any dental care program.
EXERCISES
I Answer the following questions:

1. Where does fluoride naturally occur?
2. What are the benefits of fluoride?
3. How is fluoride obtained?
4. What do topical fluorides include?
5. What is the function of systemic fluorides?
6. How are topical fluorides applied?
7. What does the process of water fluoridation comprise?
8. In what form are dietary fluoride supplements available?
II Fill in the missing words:

patches, abnormal, supplements, swallow, reducing, appearance, mottled, consume,
accumulates, symptoms
People who live in areas where the drinking water has a naturally high fluoride level may
__________ too much fluoride-a condition called fluorosis. Fluoride ___________ in the
teeth, particularly permanent teeth. Chalky white, irregular __________ appear on the
surface of the tooth enamel, causing the enamel to appear _________. The teeth may
also become pitted. These defects appear to affect __________ only and may even make
the enamel more resistant to cavities. Fluoride also accumulates in bones. Rarely,
consuming too much fluoride for a long time results in dense but weak bones,
_________bone growths (spurs) on the spine, and crippling due to calcium accumulation
(calcification) in ligaments.
The diagnosis is based on ___________. Treatment involves ___________ fluoride
consumption. For example, people who live in areas with fluoridated water should not
drink fluoridated water or take fluoride ___________. Children should always be
instructed not to __________ fluoridated toothpaste.

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FLUORIDE AND FLUORIDATION

Fluoride is obtained in two forms: topical and systemic. Topical fluorides

Dietary fluoride supplements

I Answer the following questions:

II Fill in the missing words:

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