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Why do that when you can get prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste from your dentist if you are concerned about your teeth? Your dentist will be able to tell if you need it or not. You could also look into varnishes and having custom trays made for your teeth that you leave in overnight to remineralize.
Even regular OTC toothpaste is sufficient with proper application, a proper oral care regiment, and regular interventions from the dentist (e.g. cleanings every 6 months).
Fluoride's remineralization benefits are topical. Brush, spit excess, and leave toothpaste on 30 minutes before rinsing. Do not drink or eat anything during that period.
Brush as directed, but at least two times a day. Proper flossing is critical as well. Do not leave acids on your teeth without rinsing with water and do not let plaque develop and stay on your teeth for extended periods, otherwise it hardens into tartar and can't be removed at home.
Obviously certain foods are better for your teeth than others. Grazing/snacking habits can potentially harm your teeth as well. Xylitol mints are a good thing to have during periods where you can't brush. I suggest rinsing with water after consuming food, and especially rinsing after consuming acidic or sugary drinks, no matter where you are.
Because children have teeth that aren't exposed to topical fluoride.
Their future adult teeth, growing under their gums, in their jaws.
The only way to build them strong is from the inside out, by getting fluoride into the children's systems.
The human body is able to produce strong teeth and enamel unassisted, our diets and habits do the damage. The body is unable to repair the damaged enamel without topical solutions.
If you have a young child where topical fluoride is unadvised, consider nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste, especially if they know how to spit out. I like Fygg's brand, it's made by dentists and the studies are promising. nano-HAp remineralization is less resistant to acid, so please consider fluoride as soon as possible.
As always, consult with a dentist and get their advice before doing anything with your children's teeth — including having regular check-ups with them.
Maintaining systemic fluoride during development does seem attractive to develop tooth structure that is more resistant to acid throughout. However, I believe establishing and maintaining consistent care with dentists and developing solid oral health routines and diet practices, as early in life as possible, are all necessary steps to take and are more than sufficient.
Enamel damage and tooth decay doesn't magically happen, and education lasts for a lifetime.
Obviously education about brushing and flossing and a healthy diet help more, if the family is able to afford the food and toothbrushes and regular dental care. But in areas where (natural or added) fluoride levels in the water are higher (within a limit of 1.5 ppm, twice what is set for when fluoride is added), there is observed to be less tooth decay and better overall dental health even when controlling the data for the elements you cited.
I am merely trying to drive home the point that all tooth decay is preventable. It's not some magic genetic defect or simply because fluoride isn't at the right concentration in water. If your children's teeth or your own are rotting out, it's a multifaceted issue, but not outside your own personal responsibility.
We can all do better for ourselves and our children. I am sure I informed people about the proper application of fluoride because no dentist I've ever had taught me. They never taught me to monitor for plaque or rinse acid off.
Our diets are literal trash and regulators refuse to regulate for children and adults alike. High fructose corn syrup used to be in most bread and sugar is still added, sugar (HFCS or otherwise) is added to children's snacks in vast quantities, common dry snacks on shelves (e.g. oreos, cookies) are terrible for our teeth, candy is made to appeal to children, cereal is awful and appeals to children — literally anything you look at that isn't a whole food, meat, and certain grains is generally ultra-processed and loaded with sugars and potentially acids that rot our teeth.
Rice, pasta, beans, some meat, unsweetened yogurts, and certain vegetables/fruits are all cheap and accessible to everyone. Not all bread is created equal, but it's also accessible.
Dental care is inaccessible, and that's the real reason why enamel damage is allowed to progress to decay. Dentists (and schooling for children) do not adequately explain proper dental home care (and what to do after consuming certain problematic foods).
Common toothpastes and dental products trash our oral microbiome as well. I don't care what the ADA says about these companies, common products suck. When I use typical products, immediately acid-creating bacteria grow in my mouth, no matter how thorough (and comprehensive) my routine is, how often I go to the dentist, how clean my diet is, and how much water I drink. They can do better — and fuck them for the plastic microbeads they added to toothpastes I used growing up.
Hope you understand my reasoning for response.
Calcium makes teeth strong. Fluoride prevents cavities.
..by strengthening the enamel. Which is a part of the tooth.
This is false. Fluoride is not absorbed in the body and transported to the teeth. It only works on contact with dental surfaces. You do not need fluoride to develop "strong" teeth. It only works on the exposed enamel. Growing teeth would only be impaired if the child had some other disease or deficiency, like calcium. Fluoride does nothing for developing future adult teeth.
The existence of fluorosis, caused by an excess of fluoride being absorbed during tooth formation, before they begin to erupt, shows you're wrong.
That is a cosmetic defect with no benefit. You do not need fluoride during tooth development. 40% of all cases of fluorosis are caused by public water fluoridation. Just another reason to end it.
The percentage depends a lot of the ppm of fluoride in the water, which is why it's now set at 0.7 instead of as high as 1.5 in decades past.
But my point still stands that it enters the enamel before any topical application is possible. Which makes me take everything else you say with a large helping of salt
Because young children have teeth that aren't exposed to topical fluoride.
Their future adult teeth, growing under their gums, in their jaws.
The only way to build them strong is from the inside out, by getting fluoride into the children's systems.