Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride therapy is the delivery of fluoride to the teeth topically or systemically in order to prevent tooth decay (dental caries) which results in cavities. Most commonly, fluoride is applied topically to the teeth using gels, varnishes, toothpaste/dentifrices or mouth rinse. Systemic delivery involves fluoride supplementation using water, salt, tablets or drops which are swallowed. Tablets or drops are rarely used where public water supplies are fluoridated. All fluoridation methods provide low concentrations of fluoride ions in saliva, thus exerting a topical effect on the plaque fluid. Fluoride combats the decay primarily by the formation Fluorapatite via remineralization of enamel. The fluoride ions reduce the rate of tooth enamel demineralization, and increase the rate of remineralization of the early stages of cavities. Fluoride exerts its major effect by this demineralization and remineralization cycle. Fluoride also affects the physiology of dental bacteria, although its effect on bacterial growth does not seem to be relevant to cavity prevention. Fluoride has minimal effect on cavities after it is swallowed. Technically, fluoride does not prevent cavities but rather controls the rate at which they develop. Although fluoride is the only well-documented agent with this property, it has been suggested that also adding some calcium to the water would reduce cavities further.
