If you are like some people, you believe brushing is sufficient for protecting the health of your teeth. While necessary for removing plaque and tartar and preventing gum disease, brushing is not enough. Fluorosis is a cosmetic condition that occurs if you consume too much fluoride. Although it can happen at any age, fluorosis is most common in young children because they take fluoride supplements and often swallow toothpaste while brushing. This guide will help you understand the signs and treatment options if you or your child has fluorosis.

Signs

If you or your child have white lines or streaks across the surface of the teeth, it is most likely due to fluorosis. Speckled white spots are also common if the enamel has an excess buildup of fluoride.

In severe cases, the condition can cause black, brown, and grey spots to develop on the teeth.

Treatment

Since fluorosis is a cosmetic condition, you may not think treatment is necessary. However, masking the discoloration and spots will improve your overall look.

A professional whitening treatment is usually effective for masking minor spots and streaks caused by fluorosis. More involved cases can benefit from dental bonding or the placement of veneers.

It is important to note that professional whitening treatments, dental bonding, or veneers are not recommended for children. If your child has fluorosis, your dentist may not recommend treatment at this time. Once your child loses their baby teeth, tips for preventing fluorosis should be used.

Prevention

Prevention is your best weapon against fluorosis. To get started, make sure to supervise your child while they are brushing their teeth.

Your child should not use more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Teach them to not swallow toothpaste during the brushing process. Make sure they rinse their mouth out with water immediately after brushing.

Some processed food including cereal, juice, and soda, contain high levels of fluoride. You should also reduce amount of tap water your child drinks. To determine if water in your local area contains high amounts of fluoride, check with the CDC.

Do not automatically assume your child needs a fluoride supplement or varnish applied to the teeth. Your dentist will be able to determine if your child's teeth require this additional treatment.

You may believe the more fluoride, the better, but that is not actually the case. With this guide and your dentist's help, you will become familiar with fluorosis and if treatment is necessary for you or your child. Visit a site like http://www.airportroaddental.com/ for more help.