Fluoride therapy
Medical use of fluoride / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Fluoride therapy is the use of fluoride for medical purposes.[2] Fluoride supplements are recommended to prevent tooth decay in children older than six months in areas where the drinking water is low in fluoride.[3] It is typically used as a liquid, pill, or paste by mouth.[4] Fluoride has also been used to treat a number of bone diseases.[5]
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Trade names | OrthoWash, PerioMed, others |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
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Routes of administration | By mouth |
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Formula | FNa |
Molar mass | 41.98817244 g·mol−1 |
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Relatively high ingestion of fluoride by babies and children may result in white marks on the teeth known as fluorosis.[4] Excessive ingestion by babies and children can result in severe dental fluorosis, indicated by a brown or yellow coloring, weakening and brittleness of the teeth, or in severe cases, acute toxicity. Fluoride therapy typically uses the sodium fluoride form, though stannous fluoride may also be used.[4][5] Fluoride decreases breakdown of teeth by acids, promotes remineralisation, and decreases the activity of bacteria.[5] Fluoride works primarily through direct contact with teeth.[3][5]
Fluoride came into use to prevent tooth decay in the 1940s.[6] Fluoride is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[7] In 2021, it was the 291st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 600,000 prescriptions.[8][9]