I'm in my 30s, btw, not grade school. I did recently have a cavity filled, curiously enough. My co-workers say I should take flouride, but let's just say I don't work with scientists or doctors.
138939
You probably don't need supplements.  Just make sure you're using a fluoride toothpaste, which you probably are since most toothpastes contain it these days.  If you're worried about it and since you do have a history of cavities, you might want to try a fluoride rinse like ACT.  You only have to rinse with it once a day for one minute.  The best time to use it is at night, so that it can continue to work while you sleep.  If you visit your dentist regularly, you may want to ask your dentist or hygienist what they think since they know the condition of your teeth.  Toothpastes with a higher concentration of fluoride than what you get at the stores are available by prescription, so that's also an option.
285992
I am a dentist.\n\nThey will likely get worse.  VERY IMPORTANT: Just because you cannot see a large cavity on your tooth does not mean that the decay has not progressed.\n\nA little lesson on dental caries (i.e. cavities):\n\nYour teeth consist of four basic components: 1. pulp (i.e. nerves, arteries, veins, lymphatic tissues, connective tissue, etc.), 2. dentin, which comprises the bulk and the basic shape of the entire tooth, 3. cementum, which lines the root of the tooth, and 4. enamel, which is the part of the tooth you can see in your mouth.  Think of your tooth as a dentin pole.  The part stuck in the bone is covered with cementum.  The part sticking above your gums is covered with enamel.  Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, and is about 96% mineral in structure.\n\nVarious bacterial live on your teeth.  They form what's called a biofilm, consisting of bacteria and supporting structures that help them remain on your teeth.  These bacteria feed off of sugars you consume.  One of the products of their metabolism is lactic acid.  Acids destroy tooth structure, even the hard, outer enamel surface on your tooth.  (This is not their intent, rather, it is just a very negative side-effect of their existence.)\n\nAs the acid destroyes enough enamel to reach the dentin beneath, decay can spread more rapidly.  Once through the enamel, decay will follow the path of least resistance, which is through the dentin rather than the enamel.  The bacterial now residing on the surface of your dentin need only a small hole in the top of the tooth for nutrients to reach them and sustain them.  Furthermore, your toothbrush can never reach these bacteria, because they are protected from brushing by your enamel!\n\nVery frequently I treat large cavities that were hardly visible from the outside of the tooth.  Of course, such cavities are readily seen on an x-ray.  All the more reason for you to get regular dental check-ups.
220296
Non-fluoride toothpaste is definitely better for your teeth.  In fact, over-exposure to fluoride may cause flurosis, which causes the crumbling of the enamel, discolors and damages your teeth.\n\nTony Lees, from Herefordshire, a dentist for 40 years, believes that fluoride should be banned from toothpastes and water. The marginal benefit it displays for teeth does not outweigh its general dangers, he says.  “In the scale of toxicity, fluorides fall between arsenic and lead."
282675
Once every 6 months is recommended.  There might be cavities forming, but they're too small to be seen.  Just because your teeth line up correctly and have great color doesn't mean that there aren't small holes that are tough to detect.  It's better than letting it get too far and having to get the whole tooth removed because it's beyond repair.
385590
I believe Toms has no flouride.\nBut please check the label.\nAsk at your local Heath Food Store they can tell you right away.\nAnd yes, flouride is toxic if you swollow too much over the course of a long time. But it is not natural and is not really needed if you have good dental hygeine.
86886
You should be flossing at least once a day.  It will catch up with you in the end if you do not.  You would be amazed how many people go well into adulthood with straight white teeth and no cavities and then end up losing all of their teeth due to bone loss caused by periodontal disease becaues they did not floss.  An old and very true saying is "only floss the teeth you want to keep"!
190566
don't be afraid\nget them now, i wish i had them when i was younger,\nnow that I'm in my late twenties it sucks having them\nwhen your younger your bone is more soft, and teeth move faster....don't get them when your old like me
444148
Well to be honest i really think u should go to the dentist. First of  all, all those things they´re saying are true, but when the cavity is advanced,. At the beginning of a cavity is possible you just wont  feel a thing because it isn´t deep. U see, a tooth has 3 parts 1. enamel, 2. Dentin and 3. Pulp , it depends on how deep it is, for you to feel something, plus there are some cavities that you need X- Rays to get a proper diagnosis. So do your best to visit a dentist before it gets worst, is better to get your tooth fix with a filling, than to wait and then need to get a root canal and then a Porcelain  crown.  from a DDS
586503
Not all cavities grow! By drilling into a small cavity you will have to make it larger and therefore create a bigger filling, so tiny cavities are left to see if the grow. The best way to stop it happening is to limit your sugar intake. Sugar rots teeth and the teeth take 3 hours to repair themselves after a sugar attack, so in short limit the amount of sugar to a minimum of 4 hour intervals. This includes tea & coffee (if you have sugar), all drinks except milk and water and most foods i'm afraid. At meals you can have as much sugar as you want, sweets, fruit, fruit juice etc as you meal will contain sugar. As I am a dental nurse, this is the advice we provide to our patients and have really noticed the difference in the patients that follow the advice. And the most important time to brush your teeth is before bed with an electric toothbrush.\nHope this helps
634394
The use of Flouride started in the 1940's.  Since then there have been numerous studies showing that flouride in the water doesn't necessarily mean better dental health.  Also there have been numerous studies on the dangers of Flouride as well.  \nTHe safety levels of 1ppm have been drastically increased beacuse now many soft drinks contain flouride as well.  \n\nIn fact, Dr. William Marcus who headed the EPA's Office of drinking water was fired for suggesting an unbiased study of flourides cancer potential.  Makes you wonder why.\n\nFlouride is a waste product of many industries like aluminim, steel, fertilizer, glass, cement.  If we changed our opinion of flouride and said it was bad for you all those industries would have to start removing their waste flouride from the water (costing them a lot of money).  SO it's no wonder that the government supports Flouride in the water, whether its safe or not.
544120
yes, you probably need some medication...go see your dentist
630954
Not long at all. My son had a checkup 3 weeks ago and had a non-painful cavity that they said was only going to need a filling. Today he went in and they needed to PULL it. It had gone deeper and abcessed underneath. They were surprised and checked his xrays from the 1st visit. He hasn't had sugary drinks or sticky candy.\nCall a different dentist and get in asap. Or see if you can get on a waiting list for canceled appointment times. At the very least, your cavity will get bigger/deeper and possibly cost more if you wait.
528391
Always get a second opinion. They are out to make money. I saw a dentist and he said I had 5 cavaties!!! I went to another and had only one small cavity. They will rip you off!!! Also, who in the heck needs a $100 toothbrush? Go buy a sonic care one at Target or Wal-Mart. They are the best. Take action and let them know that you are going elsewhere.
639706
my mom and dad go to mexico once a year, whether they need it or not, to do dental exams and cleanings and root canals, they claim the fillings used are a better metal than the usa uses and it is much cheaper and depsite what you think it is also safe my mom has been a dr. for 10= yrs and she trusts them, and like someone said you can get good legal drugs for the pain...which i am sure there will be and for that i wish you a very speedy recovery.
274358
yes\n\nDepending on severity,  You can fill in a chipped spot with composite.   Teeth affected by florosis are tricky, mild cases just look too white,  chalky white,  some times the teeth are brown.  In extreme cases there is a breakdown of the tooth which has nothing to do with cavities or decay,  it's purely structural integrity of the enamel that is falling apart.\n\nWhat you have to remember and be careful here.  Is that the teeth while ugly are not in urgent need of repair, unles it is decay.   I have some young persons with 7 to 8 teeth molars inscissors etc.  falling apart.  We crown the most severely damaged teeth, and bond only the mildly affected teeth. the first year we crown the two worst and then the next year one or two more, and so on.  \n\nIf a dentist tells you to do everything at once and you can afford it.  Get a second opinion.
151630
That sounds very serious. I would make sure you see the dentist to get this taken care of as advised. If you experience extreme fever (103 or so) or experience worsening of your symptoms, you may need to go to the emergency room. If things stay the same or get better, go see a dentist and get a root canal or extraction depending on your goals and finances.  Please take care of this and realize that this can flare up again and be potentially very dangerous.
671586
Not everyone gets it hun. You may be lucky and already be immune to it if you have been in close contact to someone who had it, eg a sibling. And it's not just young kids who get it... I had it aged 26!!