At every dental visit at University Pediatric Dentistry in Sugarland, Dr. Urvi Jadav will assess your child’s need for professional fluoride application. Most all children and young adults will benefit from a professional application of fluoride at the dentist two times a year.

Pediatric dentistry is based upon the idea of prevention of tooth decay. Children start developing the permanent teeth in the jaws at birth. Though the teeth are not erupted in the mouth until about six years old, the teeth are already forming. Fluoride is an integral part of this prevention plan for children of all ages. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay from forming. Sugar from food feeds bacteria in the mouth. The acid from these bacteria then damage teeth. Fluoride can help re-mineralize areas of the tooth that are “weak” or demineralized by dietary or hygiene factors.  It can help arrest dental decay that may have already started. It is particularly effective against smooth surface cavities or decay on teeth.

FLUORIDE AT HOME

At home, parents should opt to use fluoridated toothpaste two times a day. Dr. Urvi Jadav will discuss the exact amount of toothpaste that is appropriate for your child based on his or her age and ability to spit. For infants, a rice-grain amount of fluoridated toothpaste is more than enough. Brushing with fluoridate toothpaste should start with the eruption of the very first tooth. For kids who have not mastered spitting yet, Dr. Urvi Jadav recommends that you use a small smear of fluoridated toothpaste. The kids who can spit efficiently can use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste morning and night.

RISKS & How fluoride can help

Some patients may be in a higher risk category for caries formation. This includes patients with enamel defects such as enamel hypoplasia. These patients may also have particularly sensitive teeth. For kids with a history of decay, fluoride use can help strengthen other areas in the mouth that may have weakened and can also keep the teeth with fillings or sealants healthy. If a child has a space maintainer, expander or orthodontic appliances such as braces, they are considered high risk for forming cavities. As you can imagine, more food and plaque can buildup. With this buildup, we often see accelerated cavity formation for these children.  If Dr. Urvi Jadav determines that your child’s risk is high, she may recommend that your child uses supplemental fluoride. This may in the form of over-the-counter fluoride mouthwash or a prescription toothpaste, depending on his or her needs.

Customized Fluoride solutions for your child

There is no one size fits all when it comes to fluoride usage. Everyone’s risk category is different based on tooth anatomy, age, oral hygiene routine, diet, and water intake. Dr. Urvi Jadav will help assess your child’s cavity risk category so that he or she can appropriately receive fluoride application.

At University Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Urvi Jadav and her team strive to prevent dental decay through education and early dental home visits. By creating a routine of simple oral hygiene from a young age, children learn lifelong habits to help keep them healthy.

If you have any more questions in regards to fluoride treatment you can contact our offices located in Riverstone which services the Sugar Land, Missouri City, and surrounding Houston Areas today or use our convenient online scheduling services below.