FLUOROSIS OVERVIEW
The risk of putting your child on fluoride tablets, is first and foremost an overexposure to fluoride.
And that is essentially what fluorosis is.
While the permanent teeth are forming, the excess fluoride gets taken up by the tooth enamel. And after eruption, the teeth may appear mildly discoloured. There may be lacy white markings that only dentists can detect.
The below picture shows the fluorosis condition in it's mild form.
However, there are also a moderate and severe form of the condition. With moderate fluorosis, all the surfaces of the teeth are mottled and teeth may be ground down and brown stains frequently "disfigure" the teeth. Severe fluorosis is characterized by brown discolouration that are widespread, pitting, and teeth often present a corroded-looking appearance. Although fluorosis is not a disease, its effects can be psychologically distressing and difficult to treat.
People with fluorosis are relatively resistant to dental caires, but it may present a cosmetic concern.
FLUOROSIS CAUSES
A major cause of fluorosis is the inappropriate use of fluoride-containing dental products such as toothpaste and mouthrinses. Sometimes, children enjoy the taste of fluoridated toothpaste so much that they swallow it instead of spitting it out.
But there are other causes of fluorosis. For example, taking a higher-than-prescribed amount of a fluoride supplement during early childhood can cause it. So can taking a fluoride supplement when fluoridated drinking water or fluoride-fortified fruit juices and soft drinks already provide the right amount.
FLUOROSIS TREATMENTS
In many cases, fluorosis is so mild that no treatment is needed. Or it may only affect the back teeth where it can't be seen. the appearance of teeth affected by moderate-to-severe fluorosis can be significantly improved by a variety of techniques. Most of them are aimed at masking the stains.
- Tooth whitening and other procedures to remove surface stains; note that bleaching teeth may temporarily worsen the appearance of fluorosis.
- Bonding, which coats the tooth with a hard resin that bonds to the enamel
- Crowns
- Veneers, which are custom-made shells that cover the front of the teeth to improve their appearance; these are used in cases of severe fluorosis.
- MI Paste, a calcium phosphate product that is sometimes combined with methods like micro-abrasion to minimize tooth discolouration.
FLUOROSIS PREVENTION
Parental vigilance is the key to preventing fluorosis.
Once you know how much fluoride your child is getting from drinking water and other sources such as fruit juices and soft drinks, you can work with your dentist to decide whether or not your child should have a fluoride supplement. At home, keep all fluoride-containing products such as toothpaste, mouthrinses and supplements out of the reach of young children.
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