Dental Services / Oral Health - Fluoride
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Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in your well water or is added to municipal drinking water systems. When there isn’t enough fluoride in your water supply, fluoride supplements may be recommended by your oral health professional.
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DON’T |
- Have your drinking water (well) water tested for fluoride.
- Supervise your children’s brushing (dispense a pea-sized amount of toothpaste).
- Encourage children to spit out the toothpaste.
- Consult with your dentist before giving fluoride supplements.
- Keep all fluoride supplements safely
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- Let your children 13 years of age or younger drink water or eat vegetables cooked with water containing more than 1.5mg/L (milligrams per litre) of fluoride.
- Give your child vitamin/fluoride combination products (difficult to adjust dosage)
- Let your child eat toothpaste.
- Fluoride is a material that occurs naturally in your well water or is added to municipal drinking water systems. When there isn’t enough fluoride in your water supply, fluoride supplements may be recommended by your dentist.
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| Fluoride Strengthens Teeth in Two Ways |
| Fluoride is absorbed by teeth forming in the jaw from before birth to 13 years of age (systemic). |
Fluoride in the form of gels, rinses, and toothpastes can be swished or placed directly on the teeth (topical). It can reverse the very early stages of tooth decay. Topical fluoride should not be swallowed. |
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