You may have guessed fluorosis is linked to fluoride and you would be correct. It’s a condition of defective tooth enamel where the porosity is elevated due to excessive fluoride in children up to 8 years of age. You can see visible signs of fluorosis in white or cloudy splotches and streaks or dark staining in severe instances. When the enamel of your child’s teeth becomes more porous this can cause them to deteriorate and fall out in extreme cases.
If you notice these visible indications of fluorosis on your child’s teeth, the splotching and staining may be cosmetically repaired but the damage to the enamel is permanent. That cannot be fixed.
Causes of Fluorosis
Although the main reason why it occurs is due to an excessive intake of fluoride, there are a variety of ways in which your child might ingest those high amounts of fluoride. You might have ingested a lot of fluoridated drinking water during pregnancy, your child might be swallowing fluoride toothpaste when he or she brushes, or eating a lot of processed foods manufactured with fluoridated water.
How to Prevent It
While brushing is crucial, young children have difficulty with refraining from swallowing during the process and that can dramatically increase their intake of fluoride intake. Spitting out toothpaste prevents that from happening.
Children ages 2 and up should be using fluoride toothpaste, there is no need for it when they are younger unless recommended by a doctor or dental professional. Although brushing is important and should be done after each meal, avoid brushing your child’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste more than twice a day and always apply a minimal amount of the brush. No larger than the size of a pea.
Be sure to supervise your child when he or she brushes their teeth, insisting they spit instead of swallow their toothpaste when it’s time to rinse the mouth.
Research if the region in which you live has fluoridated water and inform your child’s doctor or dentist in the event they prescribe a fluoride or vitamin supplement in your child’s diet. The combination of both could increase the risk of fluorosis and the resulting decay that might occur. This is important to know when you are preparing infant formula for your baby as he or she could be taking in too much fluoride and that can increase the risk of dental fluorosis.
