What is the difference between topical and systemic fluoride?

Fluoride can be delivered topically and systemically. Topical fluorides strengthen teeth already present in the mouth, making them more decay resistant, while systemic fluorides are those that are ingested and become incorporated into forming tooth structures.

What are topical fluorides?

Topical fluorides are applied directly to the tooth enamel. Some examples include fluoride tooth- pastes and mouthrinses, as well as fluoride treat- ments in the dental office. Systemic fluorides are those that are swal- lowed. Examples include fluoridated water and dietary fluoride supplements.

Which patients may benefit most from topical fluoride application?

Fluoride benefits both children and adults. The earlier children are exposed to fluoride, the less likely they are to develop cavities. A large study found that children and adolescents who received fluoride treatments for one year were 43 percent less likely to have tooth decay and cavities.

How does systemic fluoride work?

Systemic fluoride replaces calcium in a chemical called hydroxyapatite and changes it to the chemical fluoroapatite. This gets deposited on the tooth surface. Fluoroapatite does not dissolve as easily as the hydroxyapatite in natural enamel of your teeth, so your teeth become more resistant to decay.

Which type of fluoride is best?

stannous fluoride
As a rule of thumb, if you’re looking for all-around protection (and not just cavity prevention), then stannous fluoride is the preferred fluoride of choice for your oral health. Sodium fluoride doesn’t cut it when considering tooth decay prevention.

Is topical fluoride necessary?

What you need to know as a dental consumer is that studies have shown topical fluoride applications performed by a dental professional create a significant benefit for adults who have moderate to high risk for cavities. There are several circumstances that warrant extra fluoride protection among adults.

What are the sources of systemic fluoride?

Today the primary source of systemic fluoride in the U.S. is water fluoridation. Other sources include dietary supplements (tablets, drops or lozenges) and fluoride present in food and beverages.

Why is stannous fluoride bad?

The biggest concern with using stannous fluoride was that it stained your teeth. It also used to have an unpleasant taste and leave a gritty feeling in your mouth. However, since 2006, newer formulas are less likely to cause staining.

Why do they put fluoride on your teeth?

Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. It also reverses early decay.

What is the most common source of fluoride?

The primary sources for fluoride intake include drinking water in fluoridated communities, toothpaste (if swallowed by young children), beverages and food processed with fluoridated water, dietary prescription supplements that include fluoride (e.g., tablets or drops), and other professional dental products (e.g..

Should I use toothpaste with stannous fluoride?

The goal of toothpaste in general is to clean your teeth to prevent cavities. Such benefits may be found with any toothpaste, whether it contains stannous fluoride or not. However, if you want to reap more oral health benefits, toothpastes with stannous fluoride are recommended.

What’s the difference between topical and systemic fluoride?

The mode of action, as well as the delivery of systemic and topical fluoride, are quite different. Systemic fluoride’s cariostatic effect is attributed to the reduced solubility of the enamel due to the incorporation of fluoride into the enamel minerals during tooth formation.

Are there other systemic methods to deliver fluoride?

Other systemic methods to deliver fluoride were later suggested, including dietary fluoride supplements such as salt and milk. These systemic methods are now being questioned due to the fact that many studies have indicated that fluoride’s action relies mainly on its post-eruptive effect from topical contact with the tooth structure.

What is the cariostatic effect of systemic fluoride?

Systemic fluoride’s cariostatic effect is attributed to the reduced solubility of the enamel due to the incorporation of fluoride into the enamel minerals during tooth formation. 3 Systemic fluoride, also referred to as water fluoridation in the U.S. (other countries use fluoridated salt and milk to help reduce caries risk),…

What are the effects of fluoride on dental caries?

The first observations of fluoride’s effects on dental caries were linked to fluoride naturally present in the drinking water, and then from controlled water fluoridation pr … Systemic fluoride Monogr Oral Sci.