Fluorosis is a dental disease, accompanied by the formation of specks and stripes of white-yellow and brown color on the surface of the teeth.
The reason for the appearance of fluorosis in children is the excessive intake of fluoride in the body. The disease develops during the eruption of milk teeth in children living in areas with a high content of this element in drinking water. Fluorine is not completely absorbed by the child's body and accumulates in bone tissue. Influencing the teeth, it destroys their structure, provokes the appearance of defects and chips of enamel.
Types of fluorosis
Specialists distinguish 5 types of fluorosis according to the severity of bone tissue damage:
- When dashed, stripes and milky spots appear on the surface of the teeth. The area of distribution is small - locally on the upper jaw on the lateral incisors;
- With a spotted form, the stripes develop into spots of light yellow color. Fluorosis passes to adjacent teeth - incisors, canines, molars;
- The chalky-mottled form is characterized by pigmentation of the entire enamel area in a milky-matte color. The natural shade changes not only on the front teeth - the disease also affects the distant ones. Spots are not just a cosmetic defect, at this stage the enamel is destroyed, the risk of chipping increases;
- With an erosive form, the structure of the teeth changes - part of the enamel is missing, brittleness of the bone tissue is observed, and small cavities are formed. Color - from pale yellow to brown. The child feels pain and discomfort when drinking hot and cold drinks and foods. The erosive form is diagnosed only by radiography;
- The destructive form is the most severe. Erosions cover a large area of the teeth, separate parts of the bone tissue are broken off. Teeth are worn to the ground.
Treatment of fluorosis in children
For a pediatric dentist to diagnose the disease, it is enough to conduct a visual examination at the reception. When confirming the diagnosis, parents need to hand over the consumed drinking water for analysis.
To improve the condition of the child, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of specialists:
- It is worth changing the source of water, buying soft bottled water.
- Increase your child's intake of foods high in calcium (sour-milk products, fish, cheese).
- To absorb calcium, it is necessary to replenish the missing amount of vitamin D in the body.
- For daily cleaning of children's teeth, purchase a paste or gel with strengthening properties without fluorine, but with calcium content.
- After the approval of the doctor, a course of multivitamins and preparations containing calcium (calcium gluconate) is prescribed.
The choice of method of therapy depends on the degree of fluorosis.
Enamel discoloration and small cosmetic defects in dashed and spotted form are corrected with the help of teeth whitening, which includes home and professional methods.
Whitening is contraindicated in case of exposure of the neck of the tooth, carious lesions, gum disease.
After the return of the natural whiteness of the enamel, the bone tissue undergoes remineralization. The procedure is aimed at restoring and strengthening the tooth with the help of fluorine, calcium and phosphorus compounds. The necessary substances are delivered using phonophoresis or by applying local applications.
As a solution for applications, the drug "Remodent" is used, which is produced on the basis of animal bones. Before applying, the doctor performs a series of manipulations to clean the tooth surface from plaque. The recovery course consists of 18-20 procedures. After its completion, the dentist covers the enamel with fluorine varnish.
With chalk-speckled and erosive forms, bleaching is not used because of its inefficiency. To restore the structure of the teeth, methods of aesthetic restoration (composite materials) are used.
ethnoscience
Home remedies are effective in the initial stages of the disease. Traditional medicine recipes must be used with great care so as not to destroy the enamel even more.
To whiten stains on a child’s teeth, the following recipes are suitable:
- Apply a couple of drops of citrus essential oil (lemon, lemongrass, grapefruit) to a toothbrush with paste and clean the oral cavity in the traditional way;
- Rub the surface of the teeth with lemon peel, crushed in a blender.
Prevention
It is possible to influence changes in the bone structure and the appearance of dental defects at the initial stage. The basis of preventive measures is to control the amount of fluoride that enters the child's body. A newborn baby needs to be breastfed as long as possible. Parents should take care of the quality of drinking water. If there is an increased content of fluorine, it is worth purchasing a filter. Toothpaste should be appropriate for the age of the child - it should not contain fluoride.
