Fluoride works by making the outer layer of teeth (called tooth enamel) stronger. When the outer layer is strong, teeth are less likely to get cavities.

Fluoride is provided mainly through drinking water, toothpaste, mouthwash, supplements (chewable tablets or drops), and other materials such as gels and rinses that may be applied during your visit to the dentist.

Parents should take their children to the dentist regularly, beginning with the eruption of the first tooth. Then, the dentist can recommend a specific program of brushing, flossing, and other treatments for parents to supervise and teach to their children. These home treatments, when added to regular dental visits and a balanced diet, will help give your child a lifetime of healthy habits.

Tooth decay is a bacterial process that is fueled primarily by simple sugars. Tooth decay can usually be prevented by regular thorough brushing, flossing and the use of fluoride and dental sealants. Simple sugars can be found in things such as candy, gum and pop. The general rule is: 'the stickier it is, the worse it is."

Fluoride reduces the number of cavities an individual will develop in their life by about half. This is because it makes the enamel of the tooth more resistant to the acid attacks of plaque bacteria. Resistance occurs initially when the fluoride is incorporated into the teeth during their formation and secondly, as fluoridated water washes over the surface of the erupted teeth.

Baby bottle tooth decay is a pattern of rapid decay associated with prolonged nursing. It happens when a child goes to sleep while breast-feeding and/or bottle-feeding. During sleep, the flow of saliva is reduced and the natural self-cleansing action of the mouth is diminished. Avoid nursing children to sleep or putting anything other than water in their bedtime bottle. Encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday.

Encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. Children should not fall asleep with a bottle. At-will nighttime breast-feeding should be avoided after the first primary (baby) teeth begins to erupt. Drinking juice from a bottle should be avoided. When juice is offered, it should be in a cup.

Never allow a child to fall asleep with a bottle containing milk, formula, juice or other sweetened liquids. Clean and massage the baby's gums to help establish healthy teeth and to aid in teething. Wrap a moistened gauze square or washcloth around the finger and gently massage the gums and gingival tissues. This should be done after every feeding. Plaque removal activities should begin upon eruption of the first baby tooth. When brushing a child's teeth, use a soft toothbrush and water.

The main cause of tooth decay is not the amount of sugar in the diet, but how often it is eaten or drunk. The more often your child has sugary foods or drinks, the more likely they are to have decay. It is therefore important to keep sugary foods to mealtimes only. If you want to give your child a snack, try to stick to cheese, vegetables and fruit, but not dried fruit. It is also worth remembering that some processed baby foods contain quite a lot of sugar.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that is present in water. Utilities add fluoride to adjust the natural concentration of the water supply to the level recommended for optimal dental health. The three primary agents used in drinking water fluoridation are sodium fluoride, sodium fluorosilicate and fluorosilicic acid. Fluoride's effect is topical.

The following answer is from the IFIC, International Food Information Council Foundation, 1100 Connecticut Avenue, N. W. Suite 430, Washington, DC 20036. (reference in bibliography, Part 8)] Tooth decay is the result of many factors, including heredity and the make-up and flow of saliva. Sugars and other carbohydrates such as starchy foods also play a part. Cavities occur when bacteria in dental plaque break down starches and sugars to form acids that destroy tooth enamel, dentine and /cementum.

A series of small changes over a period of time is usually easier and eventually leads to better oral health. Once that period is over, if you give a child a bottle, fill it with water or give the child a clean pacifier recommended by a dentist. The only safe liquid to put in a bottle to prevent baby bottle tooth decay is water.

Begin by setting a good example. Encourage eating a healthy, sensible diet, limiting sugar consumption and avoiding constant snacking. Brushing after eating is something that can be practiced together, parent and child. Children should have visits to the dentist at six-month intervals where specific home dental care programs can be recommended by the dentist.

middot; Use fluoride toothpaste. There are many special toothpastes on the market, including tartar control and total care toothpastes. middot; Look for the BDHF accredited products, which are clinically proven to meet any claims made on the packaging. middot; Do not have foods and drinks containing sugar between meals. Sugar is most harmful to teeth if eaten or drunk often. Older people are often prescribed medicines and tablets which can cause a dry mouth as a side effect.