Adult Fluoride
By Dr. Linda Niessen -- Baylor College of Dentistry STORY: ADULT FLUORIDE SCRIPT #517 SHOOT: 7/17/03 AIRDATE: Monday, August 4, 2003 DHC Master #18 Timecode: 11:03 Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel. Most American cities add fluoride to the water supply. A diet high in sugar and acid also raises the risk of adult cavities. “The Latino, we love sugar, so we definitely will have more cavities than the rest of the population. That’s probably because of all the sugar that we eat,” Dr. Sergio Navarro said. Navarro said among his adult patients, tooth decay remains a serious problem. “So if I see my patients have more cavities every six months they come, I will go ahead and put them in prescription fluoride,” he said. Navarro recommends fluoride products for many of his adult patients. Special toothpaste and mouth rinses contain higher amounts of fluoride requiring a prescription from a dentist. If you’ve had cavities as an adult, talk with your dentist about prescription fluoride products for use at home. And cut back on your sugar in your diet, particularly sugary soft drinks and juice. You may be at higher risk for cavities as an adult if: For Baylor College of Dentistry, The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center in Dallas, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen.
Monday, August 04, 2003
Many people who work out consume large amounts of bottled water, water that contains little if any fluoride. “It tastes better. And now I only pretty much drink bottled water. If I drink tap water, it’s just not the same,” dental patient Monica Croslin said. Croslin improves her health by exercising but may not be getting fluoride to prevent cavities. “I drink bottled water for convenience purposes,” she said.
Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.
