The Importance of Fluoride in Dental Health: What You Need to Know

What is Fluoride?

Fluoride is a mineral found in water, air, soil, and some traditional foods. It helps make teeth strong and stops cavities from developing. Many communities add fluoride to drinking water to keep teeth healthy and strong.

How Fluoride Shields your Teeth?

Fluoride protects your teeth by:

✅ Strengthening the outer layer of the tooth (enamel) to protect teeth from acid damage and cavity development.

✅ Healing weak spots in teeth before they grow into cavities.

✅ Slowing down the germs (bacteria) that cause cavities.

Fluoride Use for Cavity Protection

1. Fluoride toothpaste is safe and effective:

   • For children under the age of 3 who are at risk for cavities, use a rice grain-sized amount of toothpaste.

   
   

   

   Saskatchewan Prevention Institute (2025)

   
   

   • For children over the age of 3 years, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.

     
     

     

     Saskatchewan Prevention Institute (2025)

     
     

2. Fluoride Varnish Protects Teeth

   • Start Fluoride varnish applications as soon as your child's first tooth appears (around 6 months of age)

   • Children can receive fluoride varnish treatments two times a year from a dental provider or healthcare providers.

     
     

     How is Fluoride Varnish put on?

     1. Your child's teeth are dried with a gauze

     2. Fluoride is painted on the teeth using a small disposable brush

     3. Children can eat and drink right away after getting Fluoride Varnish

Government of Saskatchewan (2016)

Fluoride varnish applied twice a year is effective at reducing cavities in Indigenous children!

What is Silver Diamine Fluoride?

Silver diamine fluoride is a liquid that can be applied to a tooth with a cavity. The silver component kills the germs (bacteria) which stops a cavity from growing. The fluoride component strengthens the outer surface of the tooth (enamel). It may turn the cavity black, but it helps prevent pain and tooth decay. If Silver Diamine Fluoride is not used in a child with cavities, the cavity will grow larger and pain and infection can happen.

(Kyoon-Achan et al., 2020)

Government of Saskatchewan (2014); Government of Saskatchewan (2016); Holve et al. (2021); Kyoon-Achan et al. (2020); Saskatchewan Dental Public Health Network & Saskatchewan Ministry of Health (2015); Saskatchewan Dental Therapists Association (2020); Saskatchewan Prevention Institute (2025)