How Fluoride Treatment Can Benefit Your Teeth?

What Is Fluoride Treatment?

It is a dental procedure that enriches teeth with a high concentration of fluoride to strengthen tooth enamel and help prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in soil, water, and certain foods. It is proven to have a beneficial effect on oral health. However, the concentration and amount of fluoride intake will determine the benefits it yields to your teeth.

How Does Fluoride Work?

During a fluoride treatment, a dentist in Fanwood, NJ, applies a fluoride gel, foam, or varnish directly to the teeth using a brush, swab, or tray. The fluoride varnish should stay on the teeth for several minutes to allow it to penetrate the tooth enamel and the different layers, strengthening the tooth structure.

Afterwards, the dentist will rinse your mouth and discharge you from the clinic. It is a quick and painless treatment that typically takes only a few minutes. However, in some cases, the treatment can take longer because of dental cleaning.

Fluoride treatment near you cannot be effective if you have plaque and tartar on your teeth. Therefore, your dentist at Fanwood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry may recommend a teeth cleaning session before fluoride treatment.

Who Needs Fluoride Treatment?

Fluoride treatment is especially beneficial for children, as it can help strengthen developing teeth and prevent cavities. However, it does not exclude adults from the treatment. Instead, it can benefit people of all ages, particularly those with a higher risk of developing tooth decay. Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend fluoride treatment if:

1. You have braces or other orthodontic appliances. Food particles that can become trapped in the appliances cause tooth decay and other bacterial infections.
2. You have gum disease or are prone to such periodontal infections.
3. You have heightened tooth sensitivity due to enamel erosion or other oral problems.
4. You have cavities and tooth decay. While fluoride treatment cannot treat dental decay, it can help reverse cavities during their early stages of formation. Fluoride will also strengthen your teeth and reduce your risk of future decay.
5. You have dry mouth or other medical conditions that can affect oral health, such as acid reflux, bulimia, or diabetes. Fluoride treatment can help to moisturize and protect your teeth from the effects of these conditions.

Benefits of Fluoride Treatments to Your Oral Health

Fluoride has become a key element in preventive dental care, allowing dentists to protect patients’ teeth from bacterial infections and other oral complications. Some of the benefits of fluoride treatment are:

1. Strengthening tooth enamel: Fluoride penetrates teeth surfaces to strengthen the enamel, making it more resistant to acid erosion and decay.
2. Preventing tooth decay: Fluoride can prevent cavities and tooth decay by inhibiting the overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the mouth, making it more difficult for them to produce acids that can erode the teeth.
3. Reversing early signs of decay: Fluoride treatment can sometimes reverse the early stages of cavity formation by restoring minerals to the teeth and strengthening the enamel. However, it only works before you have evident cavities on your teeth.
4. Reducing sensitivity: Fluoride treatment can reduce tooth sensitivity by strengthening the enamel and protecting the teeth from external stimuli that can cause sensitivity.
5. Improving overall oral health: Fluoride treatment improves oral health and saves on cost by reducing the need for more invasive dental procedures in the future.

Do You Miss Out Without Fluoride Treatment?

​Aside from professional in-office fluoride treatment, fluoride is present in many toothpastes, mouthwashes, and drinking water supplies. The only reason you need fluoride treatment is to boost the fluoride intake in your teeth. However, you only need these services once every 3 to 6 months.

On other occasions, you can rely on obtaining fluoride from other natural sources. It will help you maintain strong and healthy teeth post-treatment. Still, it must be in collaboration with other dental care measures like:

1. Brushing teeth at least twice daily
2. Flossing daily
3. Staying hydrated to increase saliva production
4. Eating healthily to avoid fruits and drinks high in sugars and acids
5. Visiting the dentist in Fanwood, NJ routinely for exams and cleanings
6. Minding your oral habits like smoking and taking alcohol that compromises dental health