Fluoride Research Papers

Ms. May, age 80, lived her childhood and young adult life in early and mid-1900 America when dentistry was not revolutionized, as result Ms. May has suffered oral diseases related to the lack of education in oral hygiene. Poor dental hygiene was a factor during the period Ms. May grew up in because of the following factors: limited availability of dentists, being poor and lack of education.
The history of dentistry has expanded tremendously since the early 1900’s, in fact, it was not until 1943 that Fredrick Mckay established fluoride reduces dental caries. And just to add a fun fact, the first state to add fluoride to drinking water was Michigan in 1945. In addition, to fun facts people did not start using a tooth brush and toothpaste until 1905 and the concept of dental hygiene was not introduced to society until 1913 by Alfred Fones.
Fluoride and professional teeth cleaning where not preventive factors available to Ms.
May when she was growing up. Fluoride is best used as a preventive care when introduced early on in childhood. Fluoride in some cases are introduced to diets as early as 3 months in small amounts. Depending on the older adult’s health status fluoride in toothpaste and water is enough for prevention of oral disease such as dental caries, edentulism and periodontal disease. Fluoride can help treat osteoporosis (prevention of bone loss) and the prevention or treating osteoporosis can prevent edentulism (loss of teeth). In Ms. May’s case edentulism could have been prevented with proper oral hygiene. Increase of fluoride use, mouth wash, tooth paste with fluoride, deep professional teeth cleaning, flossing and brushing teeth twice a
day.
Edentulism is not only prevented by developing a daily oral hygiene, seeing a dentist going to assume money was an attributing factor for not seeing a dentist while growing up. There are many dental restorative materials such as root canals, crowns and caps that could have prevented the loss of Ms. May’s teeth.
Considering Ms. May’s extensive oral and general health history, plus age, and her recent event of a right side CVA that resulted in left hemiplegia (paralysis to the left side of the body). Ms. May is at a higher risk for developing medication induced oral disease such as Periodontal disease (gum disease), Xerostomia (dry mouth) and Candidiasis/thrush infection.
Due to Ms. May recent CVA she was placed in a rehabilitation facility where she will benefit from a interprofessional medical group :24-hour nursing staff (including Nursing assistance), in-house speech, physical and occupational therapy as well as a house doctor. With this team they can evaluate medication and slowly introduce independent care of ADL’s into her daily living. One of the emphasis of care can be oral, the nursing staff in conjunction with her doctor can order a fluoride varnish, and occupational can teach her proper denture and gum care such as removing dentures after eating, use gauze or a soft bristle brush to remove film from her gums too preventive any swelling or bacterial infections that can lead to periodontal disease. Remind Ms. May to soak her dentures nightly in light cleaning solution, and before putting back into her mouth rinse and softly brush with toothpaste to remove any food or film. In Ms. May case I recommend the interprofessional staff refer her to a dentist that specializes oral health of geriatrics, and that can advise on oral adaptive care devices, if needed for patients that recently suffered CVA.