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this post was submitted on 09 Sep 2023
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It's useful in immature teeth because the grooves have not yet taken up enough fluoride to be acid resistant enough against the modern diet. Not all immature teeth need them either, as not everyone has those deep grooves. Furthermore, this only protects against decay on that surface if it's done well - and a lot of the time a wriggly kid means saliva has contaminated the surface and now you have an extra interface of failure.
In adults the benefit is a lot less (if the groove was decay prone, they would have formed a cavity there by the time they see a dentist), and doing this procedure may actually increase the risk of decay than reduce (due to the extra interface of failure).
Lastly, this only protects that surface - not in between teeth. A lot of cavities happen between because there's a lot of plaque being left behind there... Because almost nobody flosses properly.
Use your interdental brushes folks! And stop drinking soda... And use extra high fluoride toothpaste.
Does fluoride do anything for adults? I had a retired MD-credentialed public health director recently tell me that it only is useful for the first (7? Can’t remember) years of life.
Mineral constantly comes in and out of the enamel crystal matrix due to acid challenge (which occurs for a variety of reasons), and including fluoride when it goes back in creates a more acid resistant crystal.
This occurs no matter the age of the individual. Systemic uptake is something to be mindful of at young ages, so it's actually important to have not too much when younger, but you can go up to an adult dose past the age of 7.
That’s what I had always heard. He told me the contrary info but then said he still ordered the water to be fluoridated back when he took over a health director position. He’s not a conspiracy guy so I wonder where he got his info. He could be just a bit flaky with age.