When should a child be given fluoride tablets?
Apr 15, 2021 · Research has shown that the teeth development period is when the teeth are most susceptible to fluoride. That is why pediatricians recommend that your child receive regular fluoride treatments from the time they are 6 months old to the time they are 16 years old. The entire staff at Smile Time Kids LOVES children.
What if my child is not receiving adequate fluoride?
Oct 18, 2007 · For optimal prevention of decay for the developing and erupted teeth, it is recommended that children be exposed to fluoride at age six months. Supplementation in the form of tablets, mouth rinses, pastes, or gels is generally continued until age 16.
Who should get fluoride treatment?
Apr 21, 2021 · Research has shown that the teeth development period is when the teeth are most susceptible to fluoride. That is why pediatricians recommend that your child receive regular fluoride treatments from the time they are 6 months old to the time they are 16 years old.
How can Pharmacists help parents decide if their child needs fluoride?
Aug 25, 2021 · At your child’s first dental visit, which should be scheduled at age one, we’ll talk with you about your child’s fluoride intake and determine when it would be beneficial to begin fluoride treatments. Fluoride treatments should be continued until at least the age of 16.
Is fluoride treatment needed for kids?
It is essential for young children, protecting them from cavities as their enamel develops. This is the driving factor in fluoride being added to most public water supplies because studies have shown that children who grow up drinking water with fluoride have far fewer cavities than those who don't.Mar 31, 2021
When is fluoride recommended?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends the clinical use of oral fluoride supplementation starting at age 6 months through 5 years for children whose water supply is deficient in fluoride.Jul 15, 2021
How many fluoride treatments per year?
Fluoride treatments for adults Fluoride treatments are important for adults as well. They are an effective way to prevent cavities and other oral health issues, especially as teeth naturally weaken over time. Adults should receive 2–4 fluoride treatments per year, depending on their overall oral health.Apr 30, 2020
What are three methods of administering fluoride therapy?
Most commonly, fluoride is applied topically to the teeth using gels, varnishes, toothpaste/dentifrices or mouth rinse. Systemic delivery involves fluoride supplementation using tablets or drops which are swallowed.
What is the best way to counsel parents on their child's fluoride status?
Pharmacists are in the ideal position to counsel parents on their child's fluoride status, as they may be filling fluoride prescriptions frequently. They may also recommend age-appropriate toothpastes and mouth rinses containing fluoride from the readily available OTC products. Pharmacology.
Why is fluoride added to water?
The fluoride is added with the express purpose of preventing dental decay and is now manufactured by most major bottled-water brands. Dental professionals are now recommending that parents of children living in communities without fluoridated water purchase this bottled water and have their child drink it daily.
How long should you take fluoride after brushing?
Best used at bedtime immediately after brushing and flossing, fluoride gels and creams should be brushed on for approximately one minute before fully expectorating. Further, nothing should be taken by mouth for at least 30 minutes after the fluoride exposure to ensure optimal efficacy. The Pharmacist's Role.
What are the different types of vitamins in a multivitamin?
In addition to the products that contain fluoride only, there are also many prescription multivitamin drops and tablet preparations available that consist of a variety of vitamins in different combinations, including vitamins A, D, E, C, and B; folic acid; iron; and fluoride ( Table 3 ).
How much sodium fluoride is in a tablet?
Tablets are typically manufactured as 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg fluoride ion (equal to 0.55, 1.1, and 2.2 mg sodium fluoride, respectively). Children older than 4 years should be instructed to suck on one lozenge or chew one tablet for one to two minutes before swallowing each night at bedtime.
How to get fluoride in water?
Fluoride Exposure Through Drinking Water. The most common and easy way for a child to receive systemic fluoride is through drinking water. Throughout the country, most municipal water treatment centers add fluoride to the community water during the water treatment process.
What is the best treatment for tooth decay?
Anticipatory guidance counseling that occurs in the dental office frequently includes counseling parents about their child's diet, fluoride exposure, home care, oral habits, dental injury prevention, and risk of caries. 3. One of the most effective agents used today to combat tooth decay is fluoride. Fluoride is a proven mainstay in preventive oral ...
Fluoride Treatments for Children in Indianapolis and Fishers, IN
Rates of early childhood tooth decay have been dropping over the past twenty years, largely in part because of a single under-appreciated element, fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that can be found in all naturally occurring water sources, including the ocean.
Meet Dr. Edwards
Indianapolis Pediatric Dentist Dr. Edwards helps families set the stage for a life-long commitment to oral health in a friendly and approachable manner. She provides a pleasant visit to the dental office, promoting trust and confidence in young patients that lasts a lifetime.
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occuring mineral found in things, such as rocks, plants, oceans and groundwater. Because it’s a proven way to prevent tooth decay, it’s also commonly added to community water sources and dental products.
Why is Fluoride Important?
When children (or adults) eat or drink, the bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugars and starches and release acids that erode the protective layer of the teeth, known as the enamel. When the enamel breaks down, tooth decay, or cavities, can occur.
Is Fluoride Safe for Kids?
Yes! Fluoride is absolutely safe for children in the correct dose. People in the United States have been drinking fluoridated water for 75 years and it’s been endorsed by hundreds of health organizations, ranging from the American Dental Association to the World Health Organization.
What is a Fluoride Treatment for Kids and How Does it Work?
A fluoride treatment is when a dentist applies topical fluoride to the teeth. While we can use a foam or a gel in a fluoride tray that a child bites into, our Naperville fluoride treatments for kids are usually performed using a varnish. We simply paint the varnish on your child’s teeth after their dental cleaning.
What are the Other Sources for Fluoride for Children?
Your child can get fluoride in their diet, most notably from tap water, as well as in small doses from toothpaste and mouthwash. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends using a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice as soon as a baby’s first tooth erupts.
When Should Kids Get a Fluoride Treatment?
Unless your child has a particularly high risk for tooth decay, we generally recommend kids get a fluoride treatment twice a year. At your child’s first dental visit, which should be scheduled at age one, we’ll talk with you about your child’s fluoride intake and determine when it would be beneficial to begin fluoride treatments.
How often should I varnish my teeth?
The topical treatment sticks to your child’s teeth as the enamel absorbs minerals down to the structural level. Varnish fluoride treatments are usually recommended every six months based on the patient’s needs. Unlike older forms of professional fluoride treatments, patients can eat and drink immediately after application.
What is SDF in dentistry?
Sprout Pediatr ic Dentistry & Orthodontics performs SDF treatments to stop the progression of cavity-causing bacteria. This is a specific spot-treatment that can be applied to cavities that have already formed. A liquid containing silver and fluoride ingredients remineralizes problem areas of the teeth to help prevent sensitivity. Silver ingredients attack cavity bacteria while fluoride builds a protective barrier around the enamel to harden teeth.
Does sprout use fluoride?
Sprout Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics uses two noninvasive methods of fluoride treatment for kids. Our team can perform topically varnish and silver diamine fluoride (SDF) treatments on children of all ages.
Current Information Regarding Fluoride Use in Caries Prevention
Sources of ingested fluoride include drinking water, infant formula, fluoride toothpaste, prescription fluoride supplements, fluoride mouth rinses, professionally applied topical fluoride, and some foods and beverages.
Suggestions for Pediatricians
Know how to assess caries risk. As recommended by the AAP in “Maintaining and Improving the Oral Health of Young Children” and the fourth edition of Bright Futures, pediatricians should perform oral health risk assessments on all children at every routine well-child visit beginning at 6 months of age.
Competing Interests
POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.
When was the fluoride guideline developed?
This guideline was originally developed by the Council on Clinical Affairs Committe and adopted in 1967. This docu- ment is a revision of the previous version, last revised in 2013. A thorough review of the scientific literature in the English language pertaining to the use of systemic and topical fluoride was completed to revise and update this guideline. Database searches were conducted using the terms: fluoride, fluorida- tion, fluoride gel, fluoride varnish, fluoride toothpaste, fluoride therapy, and topical fluoride. Because over two million papers were identified through electronic searches, alternate strategies such as appraisal of references from recent evidence-based reviews and meta-analyses, as well as hand searches, were performed. This strategy yielded 105 manuscripts, primarily related to randomized clinical trials and evidence-based reviews, that were evaluated further by abstract.Of those, 45 manu- scripts each had full examination and analysis in order to revise this guideline. Expert opinions and best current practices also were relied upon for this guideline.
Is fluoride safe for dental caries?
and other economically developed countries. When used appropriately, fluoride is both safe and effective in preventing and controlling dental caries.1 Decisions concerning the administration of fluoride are based on the unique needs of each patient, including the risks and benefits (i.e., risk of mild or moderate fluorosis versus the benefits of decreasing caries increment and, in some cases preventing, devastating dental disease).
What is fluoride used for in pediatrics?
The second part of this article on integrating oral health into primary pediatric care discusses the important role of fluoride and fluoride varnish application for preventing dental caries in children.
How old do you have to be to take fluoride?
The AAP recommends systemic (dietary) fluoride supplementation in children aged 6 months to 16 years who live in areas where the primary water supply is fluoride deficient. It is important to ask about sources of fluoride in a child’s diet, such as fluoride in well water, and the fluoridation status of the local communities. Fluoride levels for well water should be determined before prescription of fluoride dietary supplements, as wells in some locations may exceed the recommended fluoride levels. For town water, the state Department of Health or the CDC’s My Water’s Fluoride website are good resources to determine fluoridated amounts in the water supply throughout individual states.
What is fluoride used for?
Dental caries (cavities) continues to be the most chronic disease of childhood. 1 Although dental caries is multifactorial in its etiology, fluoride is an important chemotherapeutic intervention to strengthen teeth and prevent disease progression.
What is motivational interviewing?
Motivational interviewing is an exemplar for integration of oral health in primary care to address caregiver worries and encourage ongoing discussion (see “Sample conversation on fluoride use”).
Why is it important to establish a dental home?
Early referral to establish a dental home may help provide clarity about fluoride use and improve dental health. Consistent messaging from the medical and dental communities about oral health and fluoride use will promote optimal dental and overall health.
Is fluoride good for caries?
To summarize, fluoride continues to be essential in caries prevention. Both topical and systemic fluoride play a role in maintaining good teeth and preventing oral disease, but the topical effects are foremost.
Is fluoride in tap water?
Fluoridated tap water use should be encouraged instead of bottled water use, which may not contain fluoride and may be more acidic than previously anticipated, thus promoting demineralization of tooth structure. 23 Parents who live in areas with fluoridated water should be asked if their child drinks fluoridated water.
How long does varnish take to apply?
Varnish takes less than a minute to apply, which is great for pediatric patients. Many medical providers now apply fluoride varnish in their offices, so this is a great opportunity for medical-dental integration.
What is the best treatment for caries in children?
Fluoride varnish. Fluoride varnish is another preventive measure that is highly effective in the fight against childhood caries. Fluoride treatments have been used as prevention for a long time, and they are an extremely effective and economical measure to help the pediatric population.
How often should I apply fluoride varnish?
According to the United States Preventive Services Task Force, application of fluoride varnish is recommended every three to six months for children younger than age 6. 8 Not only can a fluoride varnish application help prevent caries; it can also reverse early caries white spot lesions.
What is a dental sealant?
Dental sealants. Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that protect the chewing surfaces of children’s back teeth from tooth decay. Many of us can remember meeting our sealant competency in dental hygiene school, but that may have been the last time we placed sealants.
How many children don't get sealants?
Although sealants are making great strides in preventing decay, disparities still exist. In that same report by the CDC, it was reported that about 60% of children ages 6–11 don’t get sealants, and children from low-income families are 20% less likely to get dental sealants than children from higher-income families. 7.
What are the best tools for tooth decay?
Two of the best tools we have are dental sealants and fluoride varnish. Both preventive measures have great benefits, and their effectiveness has been proven. Dental sealants and fluoride treatments have been used for decades to combat childhood tooth decay.
Does varnish help with patient acceptance?
Patient acceptance varies, but for the most part it is high. There are many varnish flavors on the market, which helps with patient acceptance. There is even a salted caramel flavor now; the options seem endless. Ease of application contributes to patient acceptance.
