How does fluoride prevent decay?
Fluorides have the ability to become a part of the tooth structure and make the teeth more resistant to dental decay. The use of fluorides may even stop progression of caries which are in the initial stages. Fluoride when consumed during formation of teeth gets incorporated in the tooth structure and makes the enamel stronger. It also has an anti -bacterial effect on several germs that cause decay and makes dental plaque difficult to attach to the tooth.
Fluoride helps prevent decay by making our teeth more resistant to the acid that is produced. If we brush regularly with fluoridated toothpaste and receive fluoride treatments, more fluoride will get incorporated into the structure of our teeth, and the bacteria will have to produce much more acid. The best time to introduce fluoride to the teeth is when they are still forming in the jaws. This can be accomplished quite simply by allowing children to consume properly fluoridated water (7 parts per million), or a fluoride supplement (for children growing up in non-fluoridated communities).
