Acidic substances secreted by dental plaque continuously consume minerals in teeth-a process called demineralization-leading to dental caries. However, these cavities can be repaired by supplementing minerals to the damaged teeth. Frequent local application of low-concentration fluoride can not only accelerate the growth of enamel crystals, but also increase their volume, thus avoiding the pain of demineralization of teeth and embarking on a healthy road of supplementing minerals. In addition, the new enamel crystals are not easily eroded by acidic substances.
Fluoride in the body-fluoride that enters the blood circulation mainly through the gastrointestinal system-helps to promote the development of teeth. After fluoride enters tooth germ, it reacts with developing enamel crystals and begins to replace hydroxyapatite with fluorapatite. Fluorapatite is a kind of crystal containing fluoride, which has stronger corrosion resistance than hydroxyapatite, a common crystal component in enamel.
There are several ways to prevent caries with fluoride: transforming hydroxyapatite into insoluble fluorapatite to reduce the solubility of enamel in acid; Directly affect dental plaque and reduce the ability of dental plaque to secrete acidic substances; Accelerate the mineral replenishment speed of enamel decalcified by acid corrosion.
The above effects of fluoride are likely to be carried out at the same time, but mineral supplementation is the key, because it can not only prevent the deterioration of dental caries, but also increase the surface area of corrosion-resistant enamel.