What is fluoride and how does it protect our teeth?

first aid
Choking risks and hazards: 4 tips to prevent choking
Kids love to put everything in their mouths. We understand that this is developmentally normal, however, when busy little bodies run around with objects in their mouth the risk of choking is high...
read more
Signs & Symptoms
A parents guide to gastro: Here’s what you need to know
The dreaded hour your child wakes up in the middle of the night with vomit in their sheets and hair. You know things will only get worse for a few days. Perhaps some diarrhoea to follow, and the fear...
read more
Tooth decay is a preventable disease. There are four main steps in keeping a healthy mouth, these include eating a diet low in sugar, brushing and flossing daily and regularly visiting a dentist.
Following these simple steps will help you in keeping your child’s mouth healthy. However, the prevention of tooth decay is aided thanks to the use of fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral which plays a critical role in strengthening your teeth in the fight against decay.
What is the deal with Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that’s found in rocks and soil, vegetables and grains, as well as in fresh and saltwater. Exposing the teeth in the mouth to fluoride helps to strengthen and replace the minerals lost from the tooth surfaces that have been attacked by the bacterial acid.
How long have we been using fluoridated water?
Fluoride has been added to water supplies in many Australian towns and cities since the late 1950s and is often hailed as one of the great public health achievements of the last century. Drinking fluoridated tap water has a considerable effect on the ability of your teeth to fight decay. Fluoridated water remains the most cost-effective, and socially equitable way of preventing tooth decay.
Are there any negative health effects?
Fluoride use, at recommended levels, has been scientifically proven to be beneficial to consumer’s dental health, with no demonstrated systemic health effects. The most common adverse effect of swallowed fluoride, when exposed to greater than recommended amounts, is ‘dental fluorosis.’
If your child’s adult teeth are exposed to a little too much fluoride as they are developing under the gums, it can affect the appearance of these teeth. In mild cases, small white flecks appear in the tooth enamel; this does not damage the teeth nor make them weak; it can become less noticeable over time. In more severe cases, the enamel may have brown discolourations or appear pitted.
As the use of fluoride drops and tablets are no longer recommended in Australia, moderate to severe fluorosis is uncommon.
Related articles
Caring For Your Baby’s Teeth
Is Melatonin Safe For Children?
Setting up healthy eating habits
Other Articles

Hygiene & Keeping Clean
Omg… they have head lice – What do I do now?
Head Lice are one of those inevitable parts of growing up. Most of us can probably still remember the horrible, itchy feeling of having it as a kid… and now that we’re on the flip side as parents we can appreciate what our parents must have gone through when they got the dreaded letter home (no emails back in those days!). When you’re actually faced with those nasty little bugs, it can be a bit...
read more
Toddler Behaviour
Quick tricks to manage big emotions in your child
Children are notorious triggers for us as parents. We can be calm, patient and level headed at work or with friends but when our child is escalating we often mirror this accidentally. This is evolutionary, it is because...
read more
At-home Activities
Bake your name
Most children learn to spell and read their own name before any other word. Why not encourage them with a yummy treat! This is a great activity as you can involve your little one from baking, to decorating...
read more Sign up
Don't miss a thing!
Stay in the loop on all things parenthood as we share tips, hacks, products, inspo & everything in between. We promise not to clutter your inbox.