The Benefits of Fluoride for Your Oral Health

The Benefits of Fluoride for Your Oral Health

May 3, 2021

You care for your dental health appropriately, brushing and flossing as recommended by your dentist. You think visiting your dentist every six months helps keep away unnecessary problems from your mouth, which it does. Did you ever consider inquiring with your dentist whether you must also incorporate preventive measures like getting fluoride treatments to keep your oral health in excellent condition?

As a grown-up, you may think fluoride treatments aren’t necessary because you follow your dentist’s instructions to the word. However, what holds you back from providing your teeth some fluoride, a natural mineral that helps strengthen your enamel to prevent cavities? Fluoride has been and continues to remain an essential oral treatment for decades. A fluoride treatment in Emerson is especially beneficial if you are prone to developing dental caries or cavities.

Cavities make their presence felt when you allow bacterial buildup on your teeth and gums to form a sticky layer of plaque. Plaque is the primary culprit producing acids to erode your teeth’ enamel and gum tissue. If the bacteria penetrates the enamel, it can infect and harm the nerves and blood vessels at the center of the tooth. Please continue reading this blog to understand its benefits for your oral health if you are not aware of fluoride treatments.

What Do You Experience during Professional Fluoride Treatments?

During professional in-office fluoride treatments from the dentist in Emerson, NJ, you experience concentrated fluoride applications to your teeth. The fluoride applications by dentists can be a focused rinse, varnish, gel, or foam. The treatment is applied using a swab, brush, mouthwash, or tray.

Professional fluoride treatments from dentists have more fluoride than you receive from water or toothpaste. The treatment is quick and only requires a few minutes. However, you are requested not to eat or drink anything for the next 30 minutes after the treatment to allow your teeth to absorb the fluoride entirely.

Do You Need Regular Fluoride Treatments?

Professional fluoride treatments from dentists are recommended by the American Dental Association every quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly depending on your oral health. If you are prone to cavities, dentists prescribe a fluoride rinse or gel for use from home regularly. Your risks to holes exacerbate if you are frequently indulging in excessive alcohol and drug use, maintain poor oral hygiene and don’t see your dentist often, have an eating disorder, weakened enamel, or are affected by dry mouth or xerostomia.

How Does Fluoride Benefit Your Oral Health?

Fluoride functions by re-mineralizing your tooth surfaces where bacteria erode your tooth enamel. Fluoride also inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria to prevent cavities further.

Fluoride doesn’t remove decay but creates a durable outer surface for your teeth. Fluoride prevents tooth decay from penetrating the deeper layers of your teeth.

The benefits of fluoride are available both for children and adults. The sooner children are exposed to fluoride, the likelihood of cavities developing on their teeth is lessened. Children and adolescents receiving fluoride treatments for a year were less likely to have tooth decay and cavities.

Are There Any Side Effects to Fluoride Treatments?

Too much fluoride can cause adverse complications similar to any other medication. You may receive too much fluoride, accidentally overdosing, or obtain a too high prescription for you. Chronic overexposure to fluoride causes harm in the developing bones and teeth in young children. It is why many children’s toothpaste doesn’t contain fluoride.

Excessive fluoride can cause white specks on mature teeth, staining and pitting of the teeth, problems with bone homeostasis, and dense bones that are not strong.

Should You Use Fluoride Toothpaste?

The best way for plaque removal from the teeth and gums is to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Flossing with an interdental tooth cleaner is beneficial to reach tooth surfaces that toothbrushes cannot reach. You can brush your teeth using water, but using toothpaste containing fluoride and other cleaning agents greatly enhances brushing benefits.

Fluoride is present in most water sources but adding trace amounts of fluoride to tap water is beneficial for people without access to a dentist. You can get fluoride in two ways, either topically from toothpaste or treatments from dentists. Fluoride in water and dietary supplements are also beneficial. The ADA recommends getting fluoride both topically and systemically.

Fluoride is an essential mineral preventing cavities. It restores minerals to the tooth enamel to prevent harmful bacterial buildup in the mouth. Your oral health significantly affects other bodily functions and overall health. Care appropriately for your mouth by:

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