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Educating parents and youth about fluoride

Word of Mouth newsletter Q2 2022

Fluoride treatment for young patients is an essential piece of preventative care. But for many children, that’s the only fluoride they’ll get until their next visit. You can take an active role in educating parents and their kids about the importance of fluoride and how they can get it every day.

Most parents know that fluoride strengthens the enamel and helps reduce cavities. But they may not be providing enough fluoride to keep their kids’ teeth healthy.

  • Exposure to dental fluoride is most critical from the ages of 6 months to 16 years old
  • Children ages 4 through 11 should get 2.0 to 2.4 milligrams of fluoride each day
  • Community tap water has a controlled amount of added fluoride and traces of fluoride are present in some foods and beverages
  • Consuming too much fluoride can have unhealthy outcomes including brown staining on the surfaces of the teeth

You’re encouraged to use this infographic to help inform young patients and their parents about the importance of fluoride in successful oral care.
― Leonard Weiss, DMD

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Did you know?

  • In the early 1900s, Frederick McKay, a young dental professional discovered that children in 3 different U.S. cities with elevated amounts of fluorine had considerable “teeth mottling,” known today as fluorosis, but fewer cavitites
  • Fluorine was originally considered a waste product of an aluminum plant, but studies showed its presence in local water levels had a profound effect on teeth
  • A 15-year study launched in Grand Rapids, MI, in 1945 infused a safe dosage of fluoride into the local water supply. After 11 years, data showed the cavity rate of children dropped 60%
  • Today, fluoride is considered on of the greatest public health achievements in the 20th century