There are different types of toothpaste available in the market. Several are specialized in solving a particular problem, while others are all-in-one and contain a combination of ingredients which help your teeth stay clean and germ-free. Out of the different ingredients that are present in toothpaste, one which is extremely beneficial is fluoride. It is claimed that fluoride-free toothpaste will not help improve the strength of your teeth.

What is fluoride?
A naturally occurring mineral, fluoride is found in water bodies like lakes, rivers, and oceans. Fluoride has been added to water supplies as well by many governments as the mineral helps in strengthening the enamel of the tooth.

How does fluoride help prevent tooth decay?
Fluoride slows the breakdown of enamel and paces the process of remineralization. The regenerated enamel crystals are harder, bigger in size, and acid-resistant. Although it is porous in property, tooth enamel is hard. When there is a plaque on the surface of the teeth, acids can be produced that penetrate the pores of the enamel and break it internally. This process is known as demineralization and creates a weak spot within the tooth that has chances of turning into a cavity if it is not treated on time.

Benefits of fluoride
Cavities in both adults and children alike can be prevented with the help of toothpaste that contains fluoride. It is advisable to brush with fluoridated toothpaste twice daily in order to lend strength to weak spots and exposed roots and to abate tooth decay in its earlier stages.

Kindly note that children should be supervised when they are brushing their teeth to make sure that proper dental hygiene is being maintained. Children below six should brush with using a pea-sized dab of fluoride-containing toothpaste.

In addition to toothpaste, intake of fluoride can also be facilitated by the following means:

Fluoride mouthwash
Another way to protect the teeth and gums from cavity problems is rinsing the mouth with a mouthwash that has some content of fluoride. Several brands of mouthwash are available that have fluoride as a key ingredient. It is to be noted that the fluoride in high amounts in certain cases may cause irritation, especially in kids, and they should be supervised when they are rinsing with mouthwash.

Adding water to fluoride
One of the most common, easiest, and cost-effective ways to protect our teeth from cavities with the help of fluoride is adding fluoride to drinking water. It works for both adults and children alike.

One important point to take care of is that the amount of fluoride that should be added to the water has to be monitored and if needed, a dentist can be consulted for the same. Fluoride tablets or drops may be prescribed by the dental professional in case fluoride is not added in the drinking water. While bottled water may seem safe to drink, it does not normally contain fluoride.

Fluoride is essential for dental care and should be a part of everyone’s oral care habits.