fluoride

Everyday

Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps make teeth strong and protects them from holes (decay). It is added to most toothpastes and, in many places, to tap water. tree →

In the lessons

In health and hygiene lessons: brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, use a pea-sized amount, spit it out and do not rinse straight away so the fluoride keeps working; dentists sometimes paint fluoride varnish on children's teeth. In science, fluoride is a compound of the element fluorine. Phrases: fluoride toothpaste, fluoride varnish.

Examples

• Use fluoride toothpaste twice a day. tree →
• Fluoride helps stop tooth decay. tree →
• Spit out the toothpaste, but don't rinse it all away. tree →
• Our tap water has fluoride in it. tree →
• The dentist painted fluoride on my teeth. tree →
• Fluoride makes tooth enamel stronger. tree →
• A pea-sized blob of fluoride toothpaste is enough for children. tree →
• Do not swallow toothpaste. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Spelled fluor-ide (not «flouride»: f-l-u-o). Pronounced FLOOR-ide. Too much swallowed fluoride is not good, which is why children use only a small amount and spit it out.