Understanding Your Child's Fluoride Needs

Drinking water throughout the day can help your child prevent cavities. If the water they’re drinking contains fluoride, it helps make their teeth already stronger, healthier, and less likely to experience decay. 

According to pediatric dentists Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel, DMD, located at Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, ensuring your child gets enough fluoride is an important part of preventing cavities. Learn more about fluoride and why it’s so important for your child.

How fluoride protects teeth

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps keep tooth enamel strong. This helps keep tooth enamel from breaking down when exposed to sugars or acids that are unfriendly to teeth.

Children and adults who get enough fluoride in their diet are less likely to develop cavities, as fluoride helps prevent or slow cavity formation. Fluoride is most helpful to teeth when combined with daily brushing and flossing and dental cleanings twice a year.

Your child starts to need fluoride when they get their first tooth. Your whole family needs fluoride in their adult years to maintain the strength of their teeth.

Where to get fluoride

Your child can get fluoride from several sources. The most common include:

Water

The US government recommends cities add fluoride to the drinking water at a level of 0.7 milligrams per liter. The water supply is governed locally, and most municipalities include fluoride.

If your child lives in an area that adds fluoride to tap water and drinks it regularly, they can get adequate fluoride from water alone. Your child might need additional sources of fluoride if they normally drink only bottled or well water, or live in an area where it isn’t added.

Supplements

If your child doesn’t get fluoride naturally in their water supply, they can add it in other ways. Our team recommends putting fluoride drops or dissolvable tablets in your child’s water. We advise you on the correct amount and how to use the supplements.

Toothpaste

In addition to drinking water that contains fluoride, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that children use an age-appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste. Look for toothpastes with an ADA seal of approval at the store.

Fluoride varnish

Many children, especially those under age 5, benefit from having a fluoride varnish applied to their teeth 2-4 times a year. This varnish helps keep their teeth stronger and more cavity-resistant as they grow.

Your child can quickly get a varnish treatment during their routine dental cleaning. This painless procedure takes just a few minutes and involves our team member gently applying varnish to your child’s teeth.

Once the procedure is complete, your child should avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes to give the varnish time to set. After that, they can go back to their usual routine.

Throughout your child’s routine dental appointments, our team monitors your child’s fluoride levels and ensures they’re receiving the correct amounts. Getting too much fluoride is not usually a concern, but too little can leave your child vulnerable to getting more cavities.

If you have any questions about fluoride or would like to schedule a fluoride treatment, contact our office.