The use of fluoride to prevent tooth decay has been one of the most successful public health endeavors of recent history. Tooth decay used to be a common disease process that afflicted almost everyone, beginning in childhood. There is no disputing the fact that fluoride is effective at dramatically reducing the risk of developing decay. There is much debate about the safety of fluoride with extreme opinions on either side of the issue. The Advanced Dental Health team believes that fluoride is safe and beneficial when used responsibly. However, rather than trying to get into the fray over this emotionally charged topic, let’s focus on the facts.
Facts about tooth decay
Tooth decay is sometimes a painful and often an expensive disease. It can happen to anyone, although some people are more genetically predisposed to it than others. It can begin very early in life shortly after teething begins. When it strikes, there is no cure for it although there are options for treating it that will stop the progression of the disease and replace the destroyed tooth structure with prosthetics, such as fillings and crowns
. We cannot regenerate tooth structure that is lost to decay yet, although research continues in this area. Fluoride is our most effective weapon in preventing decay from occurring.
Two types of fluoride delivery
Fluoride has two distinctly different delivery models: systemic delivery such as fluoridated water consumption and topical fluoride delivery such as a fluoride varnish brushed on the teeth at a dental visit. Systemic fluoride is most commonly found in municipal water supplies and can be purchased in some bottled water as well. Some pediatricians will recommend fluoride drops for children that live in areas where the water is not fluoridated. There can be unwanted side effects of using too much fluoride so always consult with your doctor or dentist before supplementing with prescription fluoride. When an appropriate amount of systemic fluoride is ingested it helps to create teeth which are less susceptible to decay so it is beneficial to children as their teeth are forming, but it is not helpful for adults. Topical fluoride is effective without ingestion because it works differently. Topical fluoride treatments include over-the-counter toothpastes and mouth rinses as well as some prescription toothpastes and mouth rinses. It can also be received through professional applications while visiting your dental office. Topical fluoride is useful to protect teeth once they are visible in the mouth and are no longer developing so is useful for children and adults alike.
We respect your choices
At Advanced Dental Health, we realize that you have a choice regarding your health care and will offer to provide a topical fluoride treatment to you when appropriate. Although we may try to educate you regarding the benefits of such treatment, we will always respect your choice to accept or decline our recommendation. Insurance plans often do not cover the application of fluoride in a dental office after a certain age and we will do our best to inform you if you will incur out of pocket costs should you elect to receive this preventative treatment. However, we will not base our recommendation for any treatment on what your insurance will cover. We always recommend what we determine will provide you with the best oral health outcome regardless of your insurance coverage. The decision to proceed with the recommended treatment is yours. Contact us today
to set up your next dental visit and we will be happy to discuss how fluoride may benefit you.
Matumizi ya fluoridi ili kuzuia kuoza kwa meno yamekuwa mojawapo ya jitihada zenye mafanikio zaidi za afya ya umma katika historia ya hivi karibuni. Uharibifu wa meno ulikuwa ugonjwa wa kawaida ambao ulihusisha karibu kila mtu, kuanzia utotoni. Hakuna shaka kwamba fluoridi ni yenye matokeo katika kupunguza sana hatari ya kuharibika kwa mwili. Kuna mjadala mwingi kuhusu usalama wa fluoridi na maoni makali katika pande zote mbili za suala hilo. Timu ya Advanced Dental Health inaamini kwamba fluoride ni salama na yenye manufaa inapotumiwa kwa uwajibikaji. Hata hivyo, badala ya kujaribu kuingilia mzozo juu ya habari hii yenye kuchochea hisia, hebu tuangalie mambo ya hakika. Ugonjwa wa meno ni ugonjwa unaosababisha maumivu na mara nyingi ni wa gharama kubwa. Inaweza kumtokea mtu yeyote, ingawa watu fulani wana mwelekeo wa urithi zaidi kuliko wengine. Inaweza kuanza mapema sana maishani muda mfupi baada ya meno kuanza kutoka. Wakati mgongo unapogonga, hakuna tiba ya ugonjwa huo, ingawa kuna njia za kutibu ugonjwa huo ambazo zinaweza kuzuia maendeleo ya ugonjwa na kuchukua nafasi ya muundo wa meno ulioharibiwa na proteti, kama vile kujaza na taji. Kwa sasa hatuwezi kurudisha tena umbo la meno ambayo yamepotea kwa sababu ya kuoza, ingawa utafiti unaendelea katika eneo hilo. Fluoridi ni silaha yetu yenye matokeo zaidi katika kuzuia kuoza kutokea. Fluoride ina mifano miwili tofauti ya utoaji: utoaji wa mfumo kama vile matumizi ya maji ya fluoride na utoaji wa fluoride ya ndani kama vile varnish ya fluoride iliyopakwa meno wakati wa ziara ya meno. Fluoridi ya mfumo hupatikana kwa kawaida katika usambazaji wa maji ya manispaa na inaweza kununuliwa katika maji fulani ya chupa pia. Madaktari wa watoto fulani hupendekeza matone ya fluoridi kwa watoto wanaoishi katika maeneo ambayo maji hayana fluoridi. Kunaweza kuwa na athari zisizohitajika za kutumia fluoride nyingi sana, kwa hivyo daima wasiliana na daktari wako kabla ya kuongeza fluoride ya dawa. Wakati kiasi sahihi cha fluoride ya mfumo inapoingizwa, husaidia kuunda meno ambayo ni chini ya kuathirika na kuoza, kwa hivyo ni muhimu kwa watoto wakati meno yao yanafanyizwa, lakini sio muhimu kwa watu wazima. Fluoridi ya mahali fulani ni yenye matokeo bila kuingizwa ndani kwa sababu inafanya kazi kwa njia tofauti. Matibabu ya fluoride ya mahali hapo yanatia ndani dawa za meno na dawa za kuosha kinywa zinazouzwa bila dawa na pia dawa fulani za meno na dawa za kuosha kinywa zinazouzwa bila dawa. Pia inaweza kupokea kupitia maombi ya kitaalamu wakati wa kutembelea ofisi yako ya meno. Fluoride ya ndani ni muhimu kulinda meno mara tu yanapoonekana kinywani na hayako tena, kwa hivyo ni muhimu kwa watoto na watu wazima sawa. Kwa sababu ya uamuzi wako, sisi katika Advanced Dental Health tunatambua kwamba una chaguo kuhusu huduma yako ya afya na tutakupa matibabu ya fluoride ya mahali hapo inapofaa. Ingawa tunaweza kujaribu kukuelimisha kuhusu faida za matibabu kama hayo, daima tutaheshimu uchaguzi wako wa kukubali au kukataa mapendekezo yetu. Kwa sababu ya kuwa bima ya afya haifai kwa matumizi ya fluoride katika ofisi ya meno baada ya umri fulani, tutakujulisha ikiwa utapata gharama za mfuko ikiwa utachagua kupokea matibabu haya ya kuzuia. Hata hivyo, hatutategemea matibabu yoyote ambayo bima yako itashughulikia. Sisi daima kupendekeza kile sisi kuamua itakupa matokeo bora ya afya ya mdomo bila kujali bima yako. Uamuzi wa kuendelea na matibabu yanayopendekezwa ni wako. Wasiliana nasi leo ili kupanga ziara yako ya pili ya meno na tutafurahi kujadili jinsi fluoride inaweza kukusaidia.