What is Fluorosis and How to Avoid it

Fluorosis is a cosmetic dental condition that only affects young children. It presents itself as fine white lines on the surface of the teeth in mild to moderate cases, escalating to dark brown pits in more severe cases. These can appear by consuming too much fluoride during the formation of a child’s teeth. Once fully formed, fluorosis cannot affect the teeth.

Fluorosis is caused by an over-exposure to fluoride. Fluoride is found in a number of dental products such as toothpastes and mouthwashes, and is considered a good addition to these because of fluoride’s tooth strengthening properties. It also occurs in tap water, with some areas of the country taking part in water fluoridation processes to ensure that all drinking water hits the national guidelines for fluoride-water levels.

How to Prevent Fluorosis

While fluorosis is not harmful to the teeth, it is unsightly and in some cases may require gentle teeth whitening procedures to remove. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to prevent the presence of fluorosis.

Ensuring that your children use the correct amount of toothpaste for their age is important. Here at the Lodge Dental Practice we recommend babies and very young children use only a smear of toothpaste for their teeth. Children up to the age of five should use a pea-sized amount of paste. For older children, toothpaste the full length of a toothbrush can be used. When brushing, make sure that your children spit the toothpaste out at the end rather than swallowing. Swallowing is thought to contribute to fluorosis. What’s more, mouthwash should be avoided at a young age.

Here at our Petersfield Dentist, our hygienist team can advise on the use of fluoride in a child’s daily routine.

Fluorosis Treatment

Because fluorosis is cosmetic, the main aim of any treatment will be to improve the appearance of a child’s teeth. While white marks are usually more subtle, fluorosis can present itself as brown and black flecks, which can look unpleasant.

Teeth whitening can be performed on teeth with dental fluorosis, although this is recommended for older children only. A treatment called micro-abrasion is more suitable for kids. This treatment involves rubbing a fine compound on the teeth to remove surface stains and improve the overall appearance of the teeth. Micro-abrasion is a non-invasive procedure, making it suitable for most patients.

If you are interested in micro-abrasion, teeth whitening, or wish to know more about the effects of fluorosis, please get in touch with our friendly team on 01730 266 350 today.