One of the many treatments available from the dentist is fluoride treatment. This type of treatment is best administered by the dentist for a number of reasons. Fluoride has long been known as a helpful substance to teeth and can help strengthen and fortify them. Many people remember getting their fluoride treatments after having their dental checkups when they were children. Fluoride is especially important for children’s teeth, but adults need it as well. There are a number of reasons why people need to have fluoride treatments, and getting them from the dentist is essential. There are five great reasons why you should have regular fluoride treatments.
It Strengthens Tooth Enamel
Fluoride is a natural mineral that has a big effect on the teeth. Each day, teeth lose some minerals from the layer of enamel, but they also gain minerals. The teeth lose minerals when sugars and plaque bacteria release acids on the teeth. This can take away some of the fluoride and other minerals from your teeth. However, these minerals can be redeposited into the enamel when a patient takes in fluoride. If there are too many minerals taken out and not enough put back in, this will result in tooth decay. To make sure that you are getting one of the most important minerals for your teeth, there are fluoride treatments. If a patent is in the early stages of tooth decay, fluoride treatments can reverse it for healthier teeth. With more fluoride added to the teeth, they become stronger and more resistant to the acids that can cause decay. When kids are under age 6, this is especially important so that fluoride will be added to the development of the child’s permanent teeth. Once this has been done, fluoride treatments can interfere with the production of acids in the mouth. This is important for people of all ages.
When the mouth has a low pH level, the enamel is more susceptible to breaking down. Getting fluoride treatments also helps with the pH of the mouth so that teeth aren’t as vulnerable to having their enamel attacked.
Help for Aging Teeth
Mineral loss is a frequent problem for teeth, and this can get worse as you get older. When people get older, their teeth often become thinner and are far more brittle. When you get fluoride treatments, the effects of aging can be reversed so that your teeth are stronger. Getting these treatments regularly is the key to lessening the effects that getting older can have on your teeth. Having stronger teeth will allow you to chew more easily and to bite into foods that you need to eat for your overall health.
Getting Professional Fluoride Treatments Is More Effective
There are various ways to get more fluoride to your teeth. One of these is by drinking fluoridated water. This has been shown to reduce the number of cavities that patients have. This adds a very tiny amount of fluoride to your teeth. There are also fluoride supplements that are available over the counter and products that contain fluoride such as different kinds of toothpaste and gels. However, these aren’t very effective at adding minerals to your teeth. To effectively get fluoride added to your teeth, you need to have a fluoride treatment that is done in the dentist’s office. This adds fluoride to your teeth that is far more concentrated than the fluoride found in water or in fluoride-containing products that are available over the counter. When you get a professional fluoride treatment, it gives you results rapidly and is more effective at strengthening your teeth.
Less Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity is a major problem for many people. This is often caused by bacteria going through the enamel of the teeth and leaving the dentin inside exposed. This dentin has tiny pathways through it that lead right to the dental pulp inside each tooth. This leaves the serves exposed so that your teeth are more sensitive to cold and hot foods and drinks. When you get fluoride treatments, it can restore the enamel so that this protective layer will protect the teeth better for less sensitivity.
Prevent Yellowing
As you get older, it isn’t just the thinning and weakening of your teeth that you have to worry about. The teeth also turn yellow over time and can be quite yellow when you get older. This yellowing happens because the tooth enamel gets thinner over the teeth, and this allows you to see the yellow layer of dentin inside. When you get semi-annual fluoride treatments with highly concentrated fluoride, this can help to put minerals back into the enamel so that the whiteness of the enamel is seen instead of the yellow dentin. Most people want their teeth to be whiter and brighter, and this is an important step to getting that look.
It’s recommended by the American Dental Association that you should get fluoride treatments regularly, getting them every three months, six months, or once a year, depending on the condition of your teeth. It’s common to get them twice a year because that’s when regular dental checkups and cleanings happen.
If you need fluoride treatments to help make your teeth stronger and brighter, give us a call at The Center for Family & Implant Dentistry to schedule your checkup and treatment.
