Triangle Pediatric Dentistry

This blog is intended to educate and make readers a little more informed about topics related to pediatric dentistry. All of the information contained here should be considered to be my opinion only and you may find others that have opinions that differ from mine. I will discuss topics in broad terms and the information should not be taken as a diagnosis or treatment recommendation for any condition that your child may have. If you have a specific question about a dental condition that your child may have then you should discuss it directly during an office visit with a pediatric dentist. -Dr. Buddy

Fluoride Mouth Rinse

July 23 2010

Fluoride mouth rinses can be very helpful in protecting children from cavities. The fluoride contained in the rinse can help to remineralize and strengthen areas on teeth where enamel breakdown (one of the first steps in cavity formation) is beginning to occur. For a mouth rinse to be truly helpful in preventing children from getting cavities it must contain fluoride. Always ask a dentist first about having your children use a fluoride mouth rinse. If your child is not old enough to rinse and then spit out fluoride mouth rinse then they should not use it unless your dentist has given special directions on alternative uses.

Our recommendation for the best fluoride rinse for children is ACT. It contains the proper amount of fluoride and the children’s version is alcohol free, both reasons why it is our preferred fluoride rinse for children. Find out more about ACT fluoride rinse at http://www.actfluoride.com/parents/index.html.

If you are looking at a generic fluoride rinse or another brand of fluoride rinse make sure that you check out the drug facts on the back label to ensure that your are getting a product that will work correctly. The active ingredient listed should be Sodium Fluoride 0.05%. You should also see on the label or on the front of the bottle that the product is alcohol free.

If directed by their dentist children should use fluoride rinses once a day after they have brushed their teeth. Children should swish with about 5-10 ml (~1 tsp)of the rinse for 1 minute and then spit it out. It is very important that children spit the rinse out and if they do not then they should not be allowed to use it. Avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes after using a fluoride rinse

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