Dental caries: Do fluoride tooth products prevent tooth decay in children and young people?

Fluoride tooth products, especially toothpaste, protect children against plaque and tooth decay.

Tooth decay or dental caries is painful and can destroy teeth. It has been known for a long time that fluoride can strengthen tooth enamel. That is why many dental products include small amounts of fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that also occurs naturally, in tea for example. In some areas fluoride is also added to the community's water supply.

Fluoride can also have disadvantages for children. If they swallow too much fluoride it can have a negative impact on their permanent teeth from a condition called fluorosis. The typical sign of fluorosis is white patches on the teeth.

A systematic study of research trials showed that the benefit of fluoride in reducing tooth decay has been firmly established. Researchers from the Cochrane Collaboration found more than 130 trials which tested various fluoride-containing dental products in more than 65,000 children and young people between the ages of five and 16. This did not include studies of fluoride tablets.

The Cochrane study showed that children who use fluoride toothpaste, mouthwashes, gels or varnishes were much less likely to have dental caries or need a dental filling. What's more, they were less likely to lose teeth completely. The biggest benefit was experienced by children whose teethbrushing was supervised. The study did not show, however, how often fluoride products caused adverse effects.

You can read more about how the different fluoride compare with each other here.

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