Fluoride has been shown effective in the prevention of Dental Caries since 1901. Up till now fluoride has been widely used.
Food and drinking water
Drinking water
Domestic water in Hong Kong has been fluoridated since 1961. This has led to a great decline in the incidence of Dental Caries. Today in Hong Kong, the fluoride concentration in water is 0.5 ppm (parts per million). Therefore, by drinking fluoridated water, the intake of fluoride is adequate to prevent Dental Caries.
Food
Fluoride is found in tea leaves and certain seafoods.
Oral care products
Fluoride is added in most of our oral care products, such as toothpaste, mouthrinse and dental floss. Researches have shown that daily toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste reduces the incidence of Dental Caries by 30%. This has proved that fluoride toothpastes are very effective in preventing Dental Caries.
List of common oral care products with fluoride and directions of use
Oral Care Products
Concentration of fluoride
Directions of use
Adult Toothpaste
1,000－1,450ppm
Brush the teeth with a pea-sized blob of toothpaste in the morning and before bed at night everyday
Children's Toothpaste
500ppm
Mouthrinse
230ppm 0.05%NaF
Rinse for 1 minute daily
900ppm 0.2% NaF
Rinse for 1 minute weekly
Dental Floss
Use once daily
Points to note when using fluoride-containing products
Toothpaste A young child should use a pea-sized blob of children's toothpaste which contains a lower concentration of fluoride. Ingestion of excessive amount of fluoride will lead to dental fluorosis with white patches found on the newly erupted permanent teeth.
Mouthrinse
For most people, there is no need to use fluoride mouthrinse. However, for those who are prone to Dental Caries, such as patients under orthodontic treatment or after radiotherapy, they need to use mouthrinse according to the instruction of the dentist.
Children under 6 years of age should not use fluoride mouthrinse to avoid accidental ingestion.
Topical
fluoride used by professionals
These topical fluoride agents are in very high concentration. The application of topical fluoride on the tooth surfaces can prevent Dental Caries or reduce tooth sensitivity. The dental care personnel usually choose a type of topical fluoride which is appropriate for the patient's oral health condition.
Types of professionally
used topical fluoride
Fluoride gel
This type of topical fluoride contains 12,300ppm of fluoride. Dental care personnel will put the fluoride gel onto a pre-formed dental tray and insert it into the patient's mouth for 4 to 6 minutes to allow the fluoride to penetrate into the teeth.
Fluoride
varnish
This type of topical fluoride contains 23,000ppm of fluoride. It is often used to treat dental caries at its initial stage. The varnish is placed on the affected tooth surface(s) and then allowed to dry on the tooth.
Points to note after topical fluoride treatment
To allow topical fluoride to fully function, please
do not eat within 4 hours after application of
topical fluoride.
