About 6 months ago my kids, 16yo and 3yo, and I started using fluoride free toothpaste. We do have fluoridated water that I'd like to get a filter for. We had just had check ups at the dentist and everything was good with all of us. My 16yo had one cavity that needed to be filled and another spot that needed to be watched. He's not very good about brushing his teeth consistently, though, and being a teenager he doesn't have the most healthy diet. My 3yo had no problems at all. I had one spot in between 2 teeth that may have been a problem but I couldn't get x-rays because I was pregnant. I declined the topical fluoride gel for everyone.
When we went back for our next check ups, my 16yo still had the same spot to watch. It hadn't gotten bad enough to need a filling but it hadn't gotten any worse. The dentist wanted to put sealants on his teeth again. We've tried that before twice and they didn't stick. I wasn't going to pay for it again, plus I'm not comfortable with him having that stuff in his mouth, anyway. I had x-rays and it was determined I do have a spot between 2 teeth that needs watching but isn't quite a cavity yet. My 3yo had a small cavity on one of his top front teeth that needed to be filled. Again, we declined the topical fluoride treatment.
I have always had strong teeth. When I was a child I only had 1 or 2 fillings. As an adult the only time I've ever needed fillings was in my early twenties when I went through a phase where I wasn't taking care of my teeth like I should and I had a horrible diet. Since I straightened up I've had no teeth problems. As a matter of fact, the dentist has always said my teeth were perfect. I also always used flouride toothpaste.
I asked the dentist if there was any natural way to strengthen and replace tooth enamel but the only thing he could suggest was fluoride. It was almost as if he didn't understand what I was asking. I didn't want to know about natural sources of fluoride. I wanted to know if there was a way to replace the natural hydroxy ions that the fluoride is meant to replace.
So, I freaked out after this last dental appointment and rushed right out and got fluoride toothpaste again. I've read all kinds of info about how ingesting fluoride does not help with tooth decay but topical application does. I'm not completely comfortable using the fluoride toothpaste, though, especially with my 3yo since I have no idea how much he is swallowing. Maybe we would've had this same outcome even if we had been using fluoride toothpaste? I guess I'm going to keep using it until our next visit and see if things are any better.
Is it just drinking fluoridated water that's the problem but it's ok and good to use topical fluoride treatments such as toothpastes, rinses and gels, or should we not use anything with fluoride, or use fluoride toothpaste at home but not topical fluoride at the dentist that isn't standardized? If we don't use anything with fluoride, what can we do to protect our teeth (besides eating healthy and brushing regularly)?
When we went back for our next check ups, my 16yo still had the same spot to watch. It hadn't gotten bad enough to need a filling but it hadn't gotten any worse. The dentist wanted to put sealants on his teeth again. We've tried that before twice and they didn't stick. I wasn't going to pay for it again, plus I'm not comfortable with him having that stuff in his mouth, anyway. I had x-rays and it was determined I do have a spot between 2 teeth that needs watching but isn't quite a cavity yet. My 3yo had a small cavity on one of his top front teeth that needed to be filled. Again, we declined the topical fluoride treatment.
I have always had strong teeth. When I was a child I only had 1 or 2 fillings. As an adult the only time I've ever needed fillings was in my early twenties when I went through a phase where I wasn't taking care of my teeth like I should and I had a horrible diet. Since I straightened up I've had no teeth problems. As a matter of fact, the dentist has always said my teeth were perfect. I also always used flouride toothpaste.
I asked the dentist if there was any natural way to strengthen and replace tooth enamel but the only thing he could suggest was fluoride. It was almost as if he didn't understand what I was asking. I didn't want to know about natural sources of fluoride. I wanted to know if there was a way to replace the natural hydroxy ions that the fluoride is meant to replace.
So, I freaked out after this last dental appointment and rushed right out and got fluoride toothpaste again. I've read all kinds of info about how ingesting fluoride does not help with tooth decay but topical application does. I'm not completely comfortable using the fluoride toothpaste, though, especially with my 3yo since I have no idea how much he is swallowing. Maybe we would've had this same outcome even if we had been using fluoride toothpaste? I guess I'm going to keep using it until our next visit and see if things are any better.
Is it just drinking fluoridated water that's the problem but it's ok and good to use topical fluoride treatments such as toothpastes, rinses and gels, or should we not use anything with fluoride, or use fluoride toothpaste at home but not topical fluoride at the dentist that isn't standardized? If we don't use anything with fluoride, what can we do to protect our teeth (besides eating healthy and brushing regularly)?
