Fluoride is a compound that can help prevent cavities by diminishing mineral loss or replacing minerals in the hard surfaces of your teeth. It is a common ingredient in products designed to fight tooth decay, including toothpaste and mouth rinses. In some cases, your child may also receive fluoride in the form of a concentrated gel.
The Basics
Fluoride gel belongs to a class of products known collectively as topical fluoride, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Unlike fluoride toothpaste, it is placed into special trays and applied directly to your child's teeth. Your child may receive a gel product if he has certain risk factors for tooth decay, including health problems such as dry mouth, previous history of cavities, use of orthodontic appliances such as braces and the consumption of a high-carbohydrate or high-sugar diet. Additional forms of topical fluoride include foams and fluoride varnish.
Gel Types
Available types of fluoride gel include sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride and acidulated phosphate fluoride, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Frequently, these products have a high acid content, and in most cases your child will receive a fluoride gel treatment in a dentist's office under direct supervision. In some circumstances, your child may also receive a prescription gel product designed for home use. If this is the case, you must use the product in strict accordance with the directions and warnings on the supplied packaging.
Treatment
During a typical treatment at a dentist's office, your child will have gel applied to his teeth for a period of one to four minutes, the CDC reports. For moderate-risk individuals between the ages of six and 18, the American Dental Association recommends treatment with a gel or varnish every six months. High-risk individuals in this age group may receive gel treatments as often as every three months. If you are 18 or older and have moderate or high cavity risks, you may also receive some small benefit from treatment at similar intervals.
Enamel Fluorosis
Excessive exposure to fluoride in children aged eight or younger can cause enamel fluorosis, a condition characterized by demineralization of tooth enamel, the CDC reports. Signs of the condition range from small cosmetic changes in tooth surfaces to the development of significant tooth staining or pitting. Because of the infrequent nature of fluoride gel treatments, your child has only a low risk of developing enamel fluorosis, the CDC notes.
Considerations
If your child does not belong to a moderate- or high-risk category for cavity development, use of a fluoride gel may not provide any substantial benefit, the ADA explains. This is especially true if he regularly uses fluoride toothpaste or drinks water that contains significant amounts of fluoride.
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