Fluoride

Fluoride use at home

• Once your child is about three years old, they can spit. At this age, start using a small amount of fluoride toothpaste. The amount you use should be about the size of a grain of rice.
• Always help your child brush their teeth until they are around eight or nine years old. Before that, they cannot do it well on their own.
• Everyone older than five years old should brush their teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride. You should brush twice a day for two minutes.
• Using fluoride helps prevent cavities in both children and adults.
• We recommend using fluoride toothpaste that has been approved by the Canadian Dental Association.

Fluoride use at the dental office

• Your dentist or dental hygienist can recommend a fluoride treatment to prevent tooth decay.
• Fluoride comes in many different types, including varnishes, gels, rinses and foams.
• Your dentist or hygienist can also recommend fluoride supplements to children who are at a high risk of cavities, or who live in areas that do not have fluoride in the water.
• If you have a history of tooth decay or dry mouth from medications, your dental professional may suggest an over-the-counter fluoride rinse or gel to help prevent cavities.

Community water fluoridation

More than 70 years of research shows that community water fluoridation (CWF) is safe. We check drinking water to make sure that it follows the water quality standards in the Safe Drinking Water Act.

We add the ideal amount of fluoride to the water supply of six Durham Region communities: Ajax, Brooklin, Courtice, Oshawa, Pickering, Whitby.

We believe that CWF is a safe, effective, and low-cost way of preventing cavities for everyone in the community. The money we spend on community water fluoridation means lower dental costs for Durham Region families.

Fluoride and well water

If you use well water, you can check your fluoride levels.