Flouride and braces

Factual Questions
1

I just got braces for the second time (i’m 25 - eep!) and this time the orthodontist not only gave me the world’s coolest power toothbrush, but he also gave me a tube of flouride and told me to brush with it once a day.

I can see why I need the super-duper toothbrush - to make it easier to keep my teeth clean around the braces and make sure I’m gunk free. But why flouride? Flouride isn’t to clean teeth is it?

What is all this extra flouride going to do for my robo-teeth? There’s already flouride in my water (right?) and toothpaste…

2

The finest toothbrush bristle made cannot get into the corner formed where the bracket meets your tooth. Plaque will stay there, the bacteria-generated acids leaching calcium from the enamel. The topical fluoride you’ve been prescribed is at a much higher concentration than regular toothpaste and will help minimize the demineralization. If used as generally prescribed, with no rinsing, the fluoride will also remain in contact much longer than your usual toothpaste, increasing its uptake and effectiveness.

Effects of Self-Applied Topical Fluoride Preparations in Orthodontic Patients (Note - the test subjects were instructed to rinse after brushing. We sometimes do this with younger patients. They still derive some benefit over regular brushing alone.)

Systemic fluoride (from drinking water) is most effective during enamel formation before the teeth have erupted.