Fluoride therapy

Fluoride therapy is the use of fluoride for medical purposes. Fluoride supplements are recommended to prevent tooth decay in children older than six months in areas where the drinking water is low in fluoride. It is typically used as a liquid, pill, or paste by mouth. Fluoride has also been used to treat a number of bone diseases.

Fluoride therapy
Sodium fluoride tablets. Fluoride tablets are the least preferred fluoride therapy (topical therapies are more effective).
Clinical data
Trade namesOrthoWash, PerioMed, others
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
License data
Routes of
administration
By mouth
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • US: OTC
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
Chemical and physical data
FormulaFNa
Molar mass41.98817244 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
SMILES
  • [F-].[Na+]
  • InChI=InChI=1S/FH.Na/h1H;/q;+1/p-1
  • Key:PUZPDOWCWNUUKD-UHFFFAOYSA-M

Relatively high ingestion of fluoride by babies and children may result in white marks on the teeth known as fluorosis. Excessive ingestion by babies and children can result in severe dental fluorosis, indicated by a brown or yellow coloring, weakening and brittleness of the teeth, or in severe cases, acute toxicity. Fluoride therapy typically uses the sodium fluoride form, though stannous fluoride may also be used. Fluoride decreases breakdown of teeth by acids, promotes remineralisation, and decreases the activity of bacteria. Fluoride works primarily through direct contact with teeth.

Fluoride came into use to prevent tooth decay in the 1940s. Fluoride is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. In 2021, it was the 291st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 600,000 prescriptions.

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