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Dentistry vocabulary · Gums and Oral Hygiene

Fluoride

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/ˈflɔːraɪd/nounCore term

In dentistry, fluoride means: A mineral compound that makes enamel stronger and more resistant to acid, which helps to prevent decay. It is added to toothpaste and, in some places, to drinking water.

In Turkish: florür, flor

How it is used

Dentists apply fluoride varnish to children's teeth and talk about fluoride toothpaste, fluoride mouthwash and fluoridated water. The amount in toothpaste is given in ppm (parts per million).

Example sentences

  1. We'll paint some fluoride varnish on his teeth to help protect them.

  2. Fluoride can help early white spots to remineralize.

Common collocations

  • fluoride varnish
  • fluoride toothpaste
  • fluoride treatment
  • fluoridated water
  • enamelThe hard, shiny outer layer covering the crown of a tooth. It is the hardest substance in the human body and cannot grow back once it is lost.
  • tooth decayThe everyday name for the slow destruction of a tooth by acids that bacteria produce. It starts as a white or brown spot and can grow into a cavity.
  • cariesDamage to a tooth caused by acids that plaque bacteria make from sugar. It slowly dissolves enamel and dentin and, if untreated, can reach the pulp.
  • fissure sealantA thin plastic coating painted into the deep grooves (fissures) on the biting surfaces of back teeth, so that food and bacteria cannot collect there and cause decay.

More terms: Gums and Oral Hygiene

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.