Has your dentist recommended a fluoride treatment? This is often a part of preventative dental care as well as routine teeth cleanings. Fluoride treatments have significant benefits for your teeth. Your dentist may recommend it if you are at a higher risk for cavities or just as a precautionary measure. If you’re debating whether or not to have a fluoride treatment, here are 8 things you should know.
- A fluoride treatment has a high concentration of fluoride. You may think that if you’re using toothpaste or mouthwash with fluoride that it’s enough to keep your teeth healthy. But a professional fluoride treatment applied by your dentist has a much higher concentration of fluoride than over the counter or even prescription toothpaste contains. This is why it is only recommended a few times a year during your routine dental appointments.
- Fluoride can help prevent cavities. Fluoride strengthens the enamel of your teeth, which is the hard outer layer. The enamel protects the inner pulp of your teeth from bacteria. When saliva, food residue, and bacteria mix it produces acid that can cause your tooth enamel to weaken. But fluoride hardens and fortifies the enamel so that it is less susceptible to cavities.
- Fluoride can stop cavities that have already started. If you have a cavity forming that is in the very early stages, fluoride treatment can stop it from getting worse. Fluoride strengthens the enamel and prevents the cavity from growing deeper. It may even prevent the need for a filling.
- Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. Fluoride is a mineral that occurs in nature. It can be found in rocks, soil, and water. Some locations have too much natural fluoride naturally occurring in the water and other locations do not have enough. If a city’s drinking water is lacking fluoride it can be added for the benefit of the citizens in that area.
- Fluoride treatment is safe for children and adults. Because it occurs naturally, fluoride is a safe mineral to use on the teeth. Multiple studies on the effects of fluoride on the body have shown that there are no negative effects when used in safe amounts. Professional fluoride treatments applied by your dentist contain a concentration of fluoride that is deemed safe and yet high enough to be beneficial.
- Fluoride is worth the cost. Fluoride treatment may not be covered by your dental insurance. However, the benefits definitely outweigh the cost. Fluoride treatments are not expensive and cost much less than cavity fillings, root canals, or other dental procedures that can result from tooth decay. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
- Fluoride treatments can reduce sensitivity. If you have sensitive teeth, fluoride treatment can provide some relief. Sensitivity is caused by pores in the enamel that expose the inner pulp of the teeth where the nerves reside. Extreme cold, heat, or even sugar can cause a painful sensation for someone with sensitive teeth. Fluoride strengthens the enamel and fills up the pores that lead to the nerves.
- Fluoride treatments come in a variety of forms. A professional fluoride treatment at your dentist’s office may be a rinse, a gel, a foam, or a varnish. A rinse is a liquid you will swish around your mouth and spit out. Gels, foams, and varnishes are applied to the teeth with a swab or brush. A varnish will coat the teeth until you brush them later.
Creekview Dental Provides Preventative Dental Care
Fluoride can be a beneficial part of routine preventative dental care. Creekview Dental provides fluoride treatment as part of a regular dental cleaning and exam if you wish to include it. If you are at a high risk for cavities, fluoride can go a long way toward helping prevent them.
Call 651-738-8204 or contact us today to schedule an appointment. We look forward to providing you with quality dental care.
