Benefits of Fluoride treatment

What is Fluoride Treatment?

This treatment is part of the general dentistry services and they applied to your teeth using fluoride varnish. It is a highly concentrated form of fluoride that is applied by your dentist in New Port Richey. Fluoride is also a great way to reduce cavities. Fluoride treatments are also used in some dental products.

How Does Fluoride Treatment Work?

Fluoride helps prevent cavities by making teeth stronger and more resistant to acids produced by bacteria on the surface of your teeth. The fluoride works its way into the enamel, which makes it harder for acid to penetrate the tooth’s surface and dissolve minerals like calcium and magnesium needed for healthy enamel development.

The American Dental Association recommends fluoride treatments every three, six, or 12 months. This frequency may vary, depending on the needs of individual patients and their oral health. Fluoride treatments may be performed at a dentist’s office near you.

Is Fluoride Treatment Right for You?

A dentist near you may recommended fluoride treatment if you have:

• Previous history of tooth decay
• Dry mouth
• Presence of dental restorations like bridges or crowns.

What Are the Benefits of Fluoride Treatment?

• Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay

The mineral supports healthy tooth enamel, which is the outer protective layer of the teeth. When bacteria eat away at enamel, they form acids that erode the tissue, causing tooth decay. Fluoride helps protect teeth by restoring lost minerals and strengthening the enamel. It also improves the health of teeth and can help reverse early stages of decay.

The benefits of fluoride don’t stop as the child grows older. According to the American Dental Association, the benefits of fluoride will be greatest between the ages of six months and sixteen years, when permanent teeth start to emerge. Fluoride can help build a strong foundation for permanent teeth, which determines overall health. Fortunately, fluoride treatments are safe and effective for children of all ages.

• Fluoride helps speed remineralization

When teeth are subjected to acid attack, demineralization occurs. During demineralization, minerals are leached from the surface of tooth enamel, while remineralization replaces these minerals. Too much demineralization can lead to tooth decay. Fluoride treatment promotes remineralization, making teeth more resistant to acid attack and reversing early signs of tooth decay.

The process of demineralization takes place on a daily basis, and fluoride helps speed remineralization by strengthening the tooth’s enamel. It also inhibits the production of acids by bacteria that cause tooth decay. Fluoride is applied directly to teeth or as toothpaste. Mouthwashes containing lower concentrations of fluoride can be purchased over the counter, while higher concentrations require a prescription.

What are the Side effects?

Fluoride treatment has many benefits for our bodies, but excessive intake can lead to negative side effects. Children who are exposed to high levels of fluoride have a heightened risk of developing skeletal fluorosis. Prolonged exposure to fluoride may lead to bone fluorosis, which may result in weak and brittle bones. This side effect is especially harmful to people with compromised bone health.

It is important to use fluoride according to the recommended dosage to prevent an overdose. Consult a dentist near you on the appropriate fluoride amount for children. Also, supervise your children when they are brushing to prevent them from swallowing.

Fluoride treatment before and after

After receiving fluoride treatment, you should:

• Avoid eating foods that are high in sugar for the next 30 minutes. Examples of these foods include candy, cookies, cakes and ice cream. If you do eat these foods within 30 minutes after your treatment, they will cause tooth decay by causing plaque to stick to your teeth more easily than normal.
• Drink water after your treatment if you are thirsty but avoid drinking alcohol until the effects of the fluoride wear off. Alcohol can soak up some of the fluoride from your mouth and make it less effective at preventing cavities from forming on your teeth during this period when they are most vulnerable to decay-causing bacteria.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit Orange Grove Dental for more information about fluoride treatment and what you can expect during the treatment.