Why a General Dentist Treats Teeth With Fluoride

As a patient of our general dentist office, you can expect to discuss fluoride at some point in time.  We highly recommend it for use in children, teens, and even adults for its ability to reduce the risk of cavities.  There are few products or tools on the marketing that can compare with fluoride.  A naturally occurring substance, it has been proven to reduce the risk of getting cavities by thirty percent.  While the numbers speak for themselves, we have found that most people are in the dark when it comes to fluoride and how it can help them.  With that in mind, here is what you should know.

Cavities are way too common.

It is incredibly easy to get a cavity and according to the CDC; this is the most common infectious disease found in children.  Cavities can cause uncomfortable toothaches and cause children to miss days from school.  In order to prevent them, we recommend having teeth cleaned at least twice a year and having fluoride treatments to strengthen teeth.

How fluoride helps.

Teeth start to demineralize over time.  This is the process where the enamel on the outside of your teeth starts to get softer and may even erode.  It can happen as a result of poor oral hygiene, a lack of dental care, diet, and old age.  Demineralization is dangerous for your teeth because it makes them susceptible to tooth decay.  With that in mind, you need to do something to strengthen and protect your teeth.  As a general dentist, we recommend making improvements to your diet by eating more lean protein, nuts, dairy products, and green leafy veggies.  For immediately results though, you should have a fluoride treatment.  When fluoride is placed onto the teeth it starts to remineralize and strengthen them immediately since enamel can quickly absorb it.  In this way, fluoride can stop the advancement of tooth decay and help to reverse some of the damage.

How you can get fluoride.

If you have public water, there is a good chance that you are drinking fluoride on a daily basis.  Due to the prevalence of cavities and how effective fluoride is for preventing them, there are now 10,000 communities in the U.S. that have fluoridated water.  You can also schedule a fluoride treatment at our dental office or simply ask for fluoride when having your teeth cleaned.  It comes in a varnish that is applied directly to your teeth.  In only four minutes, the enamel will absorb the fluoride and your teeth will begin to be strengthened.  You can also brush with a fluoride toothpaste or use a mouthwash that contains it.  These steps are simple, and anyone can do them with no, to minimal effort. Your teeth will thank you as your risk for getting cavities goes down by 30 percent.

In our general dentist office, our goal is to keep you in good oral health, and this is one of the ways that we do so.  To learn more, call our office today.