Fluoride Treatments For Kids

Nearly 4 million preschoolers have some form of tooth decay – It’s the most common infectious disease in children; even more common than asthma.

Tooth decay is caused when plaque bacteria interacts with the food and sugar that we eat to create acids, which tear down the enamel and create cavities. These cavities can bore down to the nerves and blood inside the tooth (the pulp), creating all kinds of problems.

Research shows that children who receive fluoride treatments are 43% less likely to get cavities. Fluoride treatments can even reverse cavities that just started forming. That’s pretty impressive for such an inexpensive treatment! 

It is still important for your child to receive fluoride treatments, even on their baby teeth. Baby teeth are more prone to tooth decay than adult teeth, which means they are at a higher risk of falling out prematurely. You might think that doesn’t sound like a big deal (because baby teeth are supposed to fall out anyway), but it is! 

That’s because baby teeth still serve an important role: Guiding adult teeth to where they need to go. If baby teeth fall out prematurely from tooth decay, that can cause their adult teeth to be misshapen or crooked. 

Regular fluoride treatments prevent tooth decay, which save you and your child the trouble of more procedures or surgery down the road. Preventive maintenance is key!