What is systemic flouride?
Systemic fluoride is ingested into the body when added to public and private water supplies, soft drinks and teas and is available in dietary supplement form. Once systemic fluoride is absorbed via the gastrointestinal tract, the blood supply distributes it throughout the entire body. Systemic fluorides when ingested during tooth development are deposited to some extent throughout the tooth surface. However, the actual mechanism of action of systemic fluorides in the adult dentition is from the topical protection as the fluoride present in saliva, which continually bathes the teeth, provides a constant source that is also incorporated into plaque and facilitates remineralisation.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring compound that continues to play a vital role in the prevention of dental caries. The decrease in prevalence and severity of dental caries over the second half of the 20th century in many industrialized countries is attributed to use of fluorides. More recently alternate view have bought into question the appropriateness of systemic fluoride vs topical fluoride.
In public health and clinical practice it is recommended that:
- Fluoridation should continue and extend into the fluoridation of community drinking water.
- Counsel parents and caregivers regarding use of fluoride toothpaste by young children, especially those < 2 years of age.
- Target mouth-rinsing to persons at high risk.
- Judiciously prescribe fluoride supplements.
- Apply high-concentration fluoride products to persons at high risk for dental caries.
For purpose of self-care, it is recommended that patients:
- Be aware of the fluoride concentration in the primary source of drinking water.
- Use small amounts of fluoride frequently.
- Supervise use of fluoride toothpaste among children < 6 years of age.
- Consider additional measures for persons at high risk for dental caries.
- If the primary drinking water contains > 2 ppm fluoride, then use an alternative source of water for children ≤ 8 years of age.
No single preventive measure can provide the results achieved and a wholistic community and individual approach is recommended.
