Caring For Your Teeth For Those Without Fluoridated Water
It's important to learn how to care for your mouth when you live in an area without fluoridated water. Water fluoridation prevents cavities, however, not everyone lives in an area with fluoridated water.
Cavities are considered the most common chronic disease in children and adults. Many Wisconsin communities adjust the amount of fluoride in drinking water to the optimal amount that prevents cavities and supports good oral health.
Local communities must decide whether to add fluoride to drinking water. Private well owners must test their water to find if it's fluoridated.
Read the fact sheet, Know Your Water's Fluoride Level, P-03442 (PDF), to find out if your city's water is fluoridated or how to test your private well.
Learn how to care for your mouth when you live in an area without fluoridated water.
Adults
- Brush teeth twice per day with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes each time.
- Floss daily.
- Visit a dental provider at least once per year.
- Eat a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables.
- Limit sugars, starches, and unhealthy snacks.
- Avoid sugary beverages.
- Drink water frequently throughout the day.
- Talk to your dental provider about additional actions to prevent tooth decay.
Babies
- Wipe gums twice a day with a soft, clean cloth in the morning after the first feeding and right before bed to wipe away bacteria and sugars that can cause cavities.
- Start brushing twice a day with a soft, small-bristled toothbrush and plain water when teeth come in.
- Visit the dentist by your baby's first birthday to spot signs of problems early.
- Talk to your dentist or doctor about putting fluoride varnish on your child's teeth as soon as the first tooth appears.
- Avoid putting juice in bottles or putting baby to sleep with a bottle.
Children
- Brush teeth twice per day with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes each time.
- Help or supervise brushing of teeth to ensure proper amount of toothpaste is used and it isn’t swallowed.
- Floss daily.
- Visit a dental provider at least once per year.
- Ask your child's dentist to apply dental sealants and fluoride varnish when appropriate.
- Participate in school-based programming like Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile.
- Discuss the use of fluoride mouth rinses for your child with a dentist or medical provider.
- Eat a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables.
- Limit sugars, starches, and unhealthy snacks.
- Avoid sugary beverages.
- Develop healthy habits early as good oral health promotes well-being that can last a lifetime.
Remember to consult your dentist or medical provider with any specific questions you may have regarding your oral health.
Learn more tips to care of your mouth without fluoridated water!
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Fluoridated toothpaste, fluoride rinses, and fluoride varnish lower the risk for tooth decay, especially for people who are at higher risk for decay. Although these products reduce tooth decay, combined use with fluoridated water offers protection greater than any of these products used alone.
Fluoride varnishes are a safe, simple, effective, and inexpensive treatment that benefits people of all ages. Fluoride varnish can be painted on teeth by certified health professionals, such as physicians, nurses, dental hygienists, and physician assistants. Varnish treatments can be received in a dental office, pediatrician's office, through a local health department, or Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile programs.
Learn more about fluoride varnish
What is fluoride varnish?
Fluoride varnish is a protective coating that is painted on teeth to help prevent new cavities and stop cavities that have already started.
Why do we recommend fluoride varnish?
- Tooth decay (cavities) is one of the most common preventable diseases seen in children.
- Children as young as 12–18 months can get cavities.
- Cavities in baby teeth cause pain and can prevent children from being able to eat, speak, sleep, and learn properly.
- Children do not lose all their baby teeth until they are about 11 or 12 years old.
- Adults often get cavities at the gum line or where the roots of teeth are exposed.
- People with certain health care needs or who are unable to brush their own teeth are at higher risk of getting cavities.
- Fluoride varnish can stop cavities forming and prevent new ones from forming.
Is fluoride varnish safe?
Yes, fluoride varnish can be used on people of all ages, from babies with their first tooth to adults. Only a very small amount of fluoride varnish is used.
How is fluoride varnish put on the teeth?
The varnish is painted on the teeth. It is quick and easy to apply.
How often should I receive a fluoride varnish?
Your health care professional will recommend what is best for you. Typically, it is painted on the teeth two to four times per year.
Where can I get a fluoride varnish treatment?
Fluoride varnish treatments can be offered at a pediatrician's office, local health department (WIC appointment), school-based dental program (Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile), long-term care facility, or dental office.
How much does a fluoride varnish treatment cost?
Adults should ask their health care professional about charges. Many fluoride varnish treatments are offered free of charge for children. The costs are typically covered by Wisconsin Medicaid, health and dental insurance plans, or grant programs.
Toothpaste that has fluoride is a great way to strengthen your teeth and prevent cavities.
While fluoridated toothpaste offers cavity protection, it isn't the same as using fluoridated toothpaste and fluoridated water together. Fluoridated water and over-the-counter fluoride products, like toothpaste, work in different ways. When using fluoridated toothpaste, fluoride is absorbed by the surface of the tooth. When added to drinking water, fluoride is incorporated into the enamel of developing teeth and absorbed by the tooth’s surface to protect your teeth throughout the day.
All fluoride sources work together, and teeth are protected best when using both fluoride toothpaste and fluoridated water.
Toothpaste alone also has limitations—such as being used improperly, not being used at the recommended frequency, or not being available to people—that interfere with receiving the benefits of fluoridated toothpaste.
There is a very little amount of fluoride found in some foods, and it's not enough to provide any benefit to oral health in the way that adding fluoride to drinking water or toothpaste does.
A healthy, balanced diet certainly does contribute to good oral health, but cannot be used alone to prevent cavities.
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