Fluoride Treatment: Benefits, Side Effects, Recommendations

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HealthlineSubscribeWhat Are the Benefits, Side Effects, and Recommendations for Fluoride Treatment?

Medically reviewed by Christine Frank, DDS — Written by Taylor Norris — Updated on March 29, 2019

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Takeaway

Fluoride and dental health

Fluoride is a natural mineral that builds strong teeth and prevents cavities. It’s been an essential oral health treatment for decades. Fluoride supports healthy tooth enamel and fights the bacteria that harm teeth and gums. Tooth enamel is the outer protective layer of each tooth.

Fluoride is especially helpful if you’re at high risk of developing dental caries, or cavities. Cavities occur when bacteria build up on teeth and gums and form a sticky layer of plaque. Plaque produces an acid that erodes teeth and gum tissue. If the plaque breaks down the enamel layer, bacteria can infect and harm the nerves and blood at the core of the tooth.

Read on to learn about fluoride treatment benefits, side effects, cost, and what to expect.

What happens during a professional fluoride treatment?

Dentists provide professional fluoride treatments in the form of a highly concentrated rinse, foam, gel, or varnish. The treatment may be applied with a swab, brush, tray, or mouthwash.

These treatments have much more fluoride than what’s in your water or toothpaste. They only take a few minutes to apply. You may be asked to avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes after the treatment so the fluoride can fully absorb.

Always give your dentist your full health history so they can choose the right treatments for you.

How much does a fluoride treatment cost?

Insurance usually covers fluoride treatments at the dentist for children. Adults, however, may pay $10 to $30 out of pocket, or more. Always ask your dentist about costs before treatment.

How much fluoride do you need?

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends a professional fluoride treatment at your dentist’s office every 3, 6, or 12 months, depending on your oral health. If you’re at high risk for cavities, your dentist may also prescribe a special fluoride rinse or gel to use regularly at home.

The following can increase your risk of cavities:

excessive drug or alcohol use
eating disorder
poor oral hygiene
lack of professional dental care
poor diet
dry mouth, or decreased saliva
weak enamel

Common sources of dietary fluoride include:

tea
water
food cooked in water
fish eaten with their bones
infant formula

Optimal fluoride intake comes from food, water, and supplements. The Mayo Clinic states the following recommended daily amounts of fluoride:

Birth to 3 years of age: 0.1 to 1.5 milligrams (mg)
4 to 6 years of age: 1 to 2.5 mg
7 to 10 years of age: 1.5 to 2.5 mg
Adolescents and adults: 1.5 to 4 mg

Fluoride for children

If your child is under 3 years old, they should only brush their teeth with close supervision. Apply only a thin layer of fluoride toothpaste to their toothbrush. The toothpaste should cover less than half of the bristles or be no bigger than a grain of rice.

Fluoride toothpaste the size of a pea is recommended for children ages 3 to 6 years old. You should watch children to ensure they spit toothpaste out while brushing.

What are the benefits of fluoride?

Fluoride works by restoring minerals to tooth surfaces where bacteria may have eroded the enamel. It can also inhibit the growth of harmful oral bacteria and further prevent cavities.

“Fluoride cannot remove decay but, while creating a stronger outer surface to your teeth, it can help stop the decay from penetrating into the deeper parts of teeth,” says Chicago dentist Dr. Niketa V. Shah.

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.

Before fluoride was added to toothpaste, studies found that people with fluoridated water were 40 to 60 percent less likely to get cavities. The ADA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend trace amounts of fluoride be present in drinking water.

Are there side effects to fluoride?

Like any medication, too much fluoride can cause negative complications. You can get too much fluoride by accidentally overdosing or by being prescribed a dose that’s too high. Fluoride poisoning is very rare today, though chronic overexposure may harm developing bones and teeth in small children. Many children’s toothpastes don’t include fluoride.

Too much fluoride can cause:

white specks on mature teeth
staining and pitting on teeth
problems with bone homeostasis
very dense bones that aren’t very strong

Acute toxicity, such as an overdose on fluoride supplement pills, can cause:

nausea
diarrhea
tiredness
excessive sweating

It can even lead to death. Always keep fluoride supplements out of reach of children.

Do you need to use toothpaste?

Brushing your teeth twice a day is the best way to remove plaque from your teeth and gums. Flossing or using an interdental tooth cleaner is necessary to reach tooth surfaces that a toothbrush can’t cover.

The movement and friction of brushing teeth is crucial. You could brush your teeth with just water but using toothpaste that contains fluoride and other cleaning agents will greatly enhance the benefits of toothbrushing.

Fluoride occurs naturally in most water sources but adding trace amounts of fluoride to tap water is especially beneficial for people without regular access to a dentist.

You can get fluoride two ways:

topically from toothpaste and treatments at the dentist
systemically in water and dietary supplements

According to the ADA, it’s best to get fluoride both topically and systemically. So, you still need to use fluoride toothpaste, even if your local water is boosted by added fluoride.

The takeaway

Fluoride is a natural mineral that prevents cavities. It restores minerals to tooth enamel and prevents harmful bacteria from building up in the mouth. Overdosing on fluoride can cause negative complications.

Oral health greatly affects other bodily functions and overall health. To take good care of your mouth:

Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time.
Floss once per day.
Avoid sugary snacks and beverages.
Don’t smoke.
Visit a board-certified dentist at least once per year.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Adair SM, et al. (2001). Recommendationsfor using fluoride to prevent and control dental caries in the United States.https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5014a1.htm
Choi AL, et al. (2012). Developmental fluorideneurotoxicity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. DOI:https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1104912/
Fluoridation FAQs. (n.d.).https://www.ada.org/en/public-programs/advocating-for-the-public/fluoride-and-fluoridation/fluoridation-faq
Fluoride treatments in the dental office. (2007).http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Member%20Center/FIles/patient_72.ashx
Haguenauer D, et al. (2000). Fluoride for thetreatment of postmenopausal osteoporotic fractures: A meta-analysis. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s001980070051
Hidgon J, et al. (2015). Fluoride.http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/fluoride
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MayoClinic Staff. (2017). Cavities/tooth decay. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cavities/symptoms-causes/syc-20352892
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Sodium fluoride(oral route, dental route, oromuscal route).https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/sodium-fluoride-oral-route-dental-route-oromucosal-route/description/drg-20066098
Shah NV. (2018). Personal interview.
Talking with your patients aboutcommunity water fluoridation. (2005).https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Advocacy/Files/topics_fluoride_talkingpoints_patients.pdf?la=en
Teeth and drug use. (2017).https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/teeth-and-drug-use

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Medically reviewed by Christine Frank, DDS — Written by Taylor Norris — Updated on March 29, 2019

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