The effectiveness of fluoride toothpaste in preventing early childhood caries

Abstract

Early childhood caries occurs as a result of several factors, such as inadequate nutrition, excessive sugar intake, night meals, lack of proper brushing, among other criteria, this caries interferes with the quality of the child's oral health and requires an intervention It is important to understand the application and effectiveness of the dental surgeon, taking into account that fluoride has been shown to be effective in preventing caries in early childhood. The objective is to o analyze the correct use and the main risks related to the use of fluoride to prevent tooth decay. This is an analysis of secondary data, through an integrated literature review. For the selection of articles in this review, the following requirements were established: publications between 2015 and 2021 in the Portuguese language that had thematic relevance. The articles discuss the benefits of fluoride in dental practices, and the need to use substances as little harmful as possible in children, in order to help the development of their oral health. The fluoride contained in toothpaste increases the remineralization capacity of dental tissues that tend to suffer demineralization when the mouth becomes acidic through inadequate habits, especially related to food, so it is necessary to control and prevent the manifestations of caries in the oral cavity of children.