How important are fluoride treatments to baby teeth? our son gets a fluoride treatment every time he goes to the dentist, but i never do. why do kids need fluoride, but adults don't?

You : You should get them, but most adults don't because of the cost. Your insurance pays for it until the teen years. Age 12-16, depending on the insurance. If you get a lot of cavities, you may want to start or get a prescription tooth paste, like clinpro 5000.

Dr. : Dr. Certo is right on about this. Adult teeth would also benefit from topical Fluoride treatments but in general there is no insurance coverage so most adult patients decline to have this done.

Kids : Kids are more at risk for cavities than adults are. They eat more of the kind of candy that promotes tooth decay and are not as careful with their brushing and flossing. Their teeth need all the protection they can get.

Extremely important: Kids mouths are more acidic, favoring tooth infection (cavities). Adults mouths are more alkaline, favoring gum disease. Fluoride tablets, vitamins, drops, or in water supply helps harden enamel as it forms ( and all your child's permanent tooth crowns are now forming) to help resist acid-producing bacteria. Topical Fluoride treatments increase resistance to decay after the tooh has formed.

Newly erupted teeth: Are more prone to cavities as the enamel is made of carbonated apatite when they first erupt. As the enamel matures it converts to more acid resistant hydroxy apatite and fluor apatite. Fluoride helps this maturation process to progress. It will help permanent teeth as well but to a lesser degree.