Fluoride can help strengthen baby teeth before they come through the gums by building fluoride into their structure. The main effect is when teeth erupt through the gums. If fluoride is present in saliva, teeth will continually be exposed to small levels of fluoride, which helps strengthen the tooth surface. Fluoridated water is the best way to achieve this.

Fluoride makes the enamel more resistant to cavities. Fluoride is available in two forms, the kind we ingest from the water supply or tablets, and the topical kind from toothpaste, rinses and from professional applications in the dental office. It is possible to ingest too much fluoride by swallowing too many tablets or too much toothpaste when a child is young, and this can cause permanent marks on the teeth. See similar questions...

Yes. Fluoride if consumed in concentrations greater than 1 PPM (part per million) for extended periods of time can result in a dental condition known as Fluorosis. Fluorosis, in severe cases can result in the deformation of the tooth enamel, making it appear "mottled" with brown pits. See similar questions...

No. As pointed out by a growing number of dental researchers, fluoride supplements are unnecessary, ineffective, and much more likely to give your child dental fluorosis than to spare them a cavity. Fluoride Supplements are Unnecessary: A vast body of dental research now indicates that there is no need to swallow fluoride at all - whether at a young or old age. This is because fluoride's purported 'benefit' to teeth comes primarily from topical application, and not from ingestion. See similar questions...

Fluoride helps to prevent decay by making our teeth more resistant to the harmful acid that is produced by bacteria left over from food particles. By brushing regularly with fluoridated toothpaste, and receiving routine fluoride treatments from the dentist, tooth enamel can become stronger and more resistant to the acid that causes tooth decay. The best time to introduce fluoride to the teeth is when they are still forming in the jaws. See similar questions...

Fluoride helps to fight cavities through a process called remineralization. A cavity usually starts as a very small weak spot in the enamel of a tooth. After continual bombardment by acid and bacteria, this weak spot can become a fully developed cavity. Acids play a major role in the cavity's process because they remove minerals (namely calcium and phosphorous) from the tooth, making it more susceptible to decay. This process is called demineralization. See similar questions...

Fluoride is a mineral found in nature. There is fluoride in the ocean, in the earth's crust and in fresh water. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

The main fluoride chemical added to water (hydrofluorosilicic acid) is an industrial by-product from the phosphate fertilizer industry. Unlike the fluoride used in toothpaste, hydrofluorosilicic acid is not pharmaceutical-grade quality. It is an unpurified, industrial-grade, corrosive acid which has been linked, in several recent studies, to increased levels of lead in children’s blood. Like arsenic and lead, very small amounts of fluoride can be found in most water supplies. See similar questions...

Fluoride, often called nature's cavity fighter, helps safely prevent tooth decay. The American Dental Association has endorsed fluoridation of community water and use of dental care products with fluoride for over 40 years. If your local water supply does not contain fluoride, ask your dentist how you and your family should get it. See similar questions...

Fluoride forms mineral crystals in the tooth enamel, which protects teeth from the acid produced by bacteria. Very simply, fluoride keeps the bacteria from being able to attach to teeth. Fluoride is present in the water supply of many communities. It also is found in foods such as tea, fish and vegetables. Many studies show that children who drink fluoridated water have fewer cavities than children who don't. See similar questions...

The addition of fluoride to your child's diet largely depends on his/her home care, how regular his/her dental recare appointments are and what his/her diet is like. Some of the food and drinks children consume contain fluoride and therefore if a child does not appear to be prone to cavities, a fluoride application at his/her dental office once every six months is all that is required. See similar questions...

A. Xylitol (birch sugar) reduces cavities much more than fluoride, and it tastes good. This ‘alcohol sugar’ in excess might cause gas or loose bowels, providing a natural control. Two tablespoons of fruits preserved with xylitol daily, or 18 mints, or a couple of teaspoonfuls of the sugar itself reduce tooth decay 30-40%. Xylitol is now in toothpastes, nasal sprays, chewing gum and chewable vitamin Cs. See similar questions...

canines- male horses and some mares get canines, 1 each on the left and right upper and lower arcades wolf teeth (technically, the first premolar)- some horses get them, some don't, 1 each on the left and right upper and lower arcades, upper wolf teeth are by far more common than lower wolf teeth See similar questions...

We use a small laser, the Diagnodent, to look inside the surface of your teeth. It detects areas of bacteria that cause decay and gives us an idea of how much decay is present. A special hand piece then supplies ozone to the decayed area. It is simple and painless. There is no drilling, fillings, injections or damage to your tooth. Ozone kills the acid-producing bacteria that cause decay and gum disease. See similar questions...

Fluoride is an element, which has been shown to be beneficial to teeth. However, too little or too much fluoride can be detrimental to the teeth. Little or no fluoride will not strengthen the teeth to help them resist cavities. Excessive fluoride ingestion can lead to dental fluorosis, which is a chalky white to even brown discoloration of the enamel. Fluoride when applied topically either as a gel, paste or rinse helps strengthen the teeth present in the mouth. See similar questions...