Calcium or Fluoride: Which Do Teeth Need More?

Dentistry in Lviv is rightly the most innovative branch of the city’s medicine, growing at a geometric rate. Dentists’ most common request is treatment of caries. It arises for a simple reason: the tooth enamel lacks calcium or fluoride, microscopic cavities form, and cariogenic bacteria settle in them and do their “dark deeds.” 

Structure of tooth enamel

Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body, consisting of 96-97% inorganic substances, mainly calcium hydroxyapatite. It is a crystalline structure in which calcium and phosphate ions form a strong lattice. The remaining 3-4% includes water and organic compounds. It is the balance of minerals that determines the strength of enamel and its resistance to caries.

The role of calcium and fluoride

 Calcium:

- The main building material of tooth enamel

- Ensures the structural integrity of teeth

- Supports the remineralization process

- Protects against demineralization

 Fluoride:

- Strengthens the crystalline structure of enamel

- Converts hydroxyapatite into the more resistant fluorapatite

- Suppresses the growth of cariogenic bacteria

- Accelerates the remineralization process

Choosing a toothpaste

 For adults:

- Optimal fluoride content: 1000-1500 ppm

- Presence of bioavailable calcium compounds

- Avoid combinations of fluoride with insoluble calcium

- Pay attention to the toothpaste pH (ideally 6.5-7.5)

 For children:

- Up to 3 years: 500 ppm fluoride

- 3-6 years: 1000 ppm fluoride

- Over 6 years: 1450 ppm fluoride

- Calcium toothpastes are safe at any age

Natural sources of minerals

 Products rich in calcium:

- Dairy products (cheese, yogurt, kefir)

- Canned fish with bones

- Green leafy vegetables

- Seeds and nuts

- Legumes

Sources of fluoride:

- Sea fish

- Tea (especially black tea)

- Mineral water

- Seaweed

- Grapes and apples

Professional enamel fluoridation

Fluoridation is a professional procedure in which a concentrated fluoride solution is applied to the surface of the teeth. The procedure:

1. Strengthens enamel

2. Reduces tooth sensitivity

3. Prevents the development of caries

4. Is especially recommended for children and teenagers

Indications for fluoridation:

- Increased tooth sensitivity

- Predisposition to caries

- After professional cleaning

- Prevention in children

- Orthodontic treatment

For dental health, both minerals are important — calcium and fluoride. Calcium provides structural strength, while fluoride protects against destruction. Optimal care includes:

- Using fluoride toothpaste according to age

- A balanced diet

- Regular professional procedures

- Monitoring the pH of the oral cavity

A dentist’s consultation will help choose an individual prevention plan and determine whether additional fluoridation or other enamel-strengthening procedures are needed.

How does caries form?

Caries begins imperceptibly. At first, plaque appears on the tooth surface, where bacteria live. These bacteria feed on food remnants, especially sweet ones, and produce acid. It is this acid that causes the destruction of tooth enamel.

First, a white spot appears on the tooth — this is the first sign that the enamel has begun to break down. At this stage, the process can still be stopped with proper care and remineralizing agents. If you ignore it, the destruction will continue.

Gradually, a small cavity forms in the enamel. At first, it may be so small that it is hard to notice without special instruments. More bacteria collect in this cavity, and the destruction process accelerates. The enamel becomes darker, and a brown spot may appear.

When caries penetrates deeper into the enamel and reaches the dentin (the layer beneath the enamel), the person begins to feel discomfort. Sensitivity appears to sweet, sour, hot or cold. Without treatment, the cavity enlarges, and caries advances deeper and deeper toward the tooth nerve.

A deep carious cavity collects a lot of food remnants and bacteria. This leads to bad breath and constant pain. If caries is not treated at this stage, inflammation can reach the nerve, and then what is needed is no longer just a filling, but root canal treatment.