Hello! Welcome to our Fort Worth family dentistry blog. Today’s message from Stephen Ratcliff, Family & Cosmetic Dentistry concerns fluoride and children’s dental health. I’m Dr. Stephen Ratcliff and I have been practicing general and cosmetic dentistry near Fort Worth since 1990.
When I examine a new Fort Worth patient for the first time, I can usually tell whether the person drank fluoride-adjusted municipal water while growing up. Generally, their teeth are healthier than Fort Worth people who had lower fluoride levels in their tap water.
Ideally, adequate fluoride intake combined with proper oral hygiene, good nutrition, and regular dental visits keep teeth healthy and free of decay. However, fluoride also helps teeth remineralize if acids have already compromised the enamel. For decay prevention and teeth strengthening, adequate fluoride is indispensable.
If you have children and your Fort Worth municipal water supply does not have the recommended level of fluoride, you may want to consider giving your kids a fluoride supplement. The fluoride will strengthen the primary teeth that have already erupted and also the adult teeth that are forming.
The American Dental Association supports water fluoridation:
‘More than 65 years ago, on January 25, 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the world’s first city to adjust the level of fluoride in its water supply. Since that time, fluoridation has dramatically improved the oral health of tens of millions of Americans. Community water fluoridation is the single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay.’ https://www.ada.org/en/public-programs/advocating-for-the-public/fluoride-and-fluoridation
At Stephen Ratcliff, Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we provide exceptional dental care for all members of the family including general and cosmetic dentistry. We serve Fort Worth and the neighboring areas. Ask us about teeth whitening, veneers, crowns, and clear braces.
If you are interested in children’s fluoride supplements, call Stephen Ratcliff, Family & Cosmetic Dentistry at 817-274-7875 to schedule a family dentistry evaluation.
