We believe fluoride treatments can be used preventatively to help minimize substantial dental work in the future and can make a true difference in the oral health services provided for our patients. Not only can they help save patients money in the long run, but they can also help save time and keep them pain-free.
What is fluoride?
It is essential to note – a popular dentist in winchester says, fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally and has extraordinary benefits for dental health. It is used to strengthen the outer shell of a patient’s teeth to prevent cavities and may even reverse early signs of tooth decay.
How does fluoride work?
Our mouths contain bacteria that feed on sugar from food and beverages and produce acid that can start to break down the enamel, or the hard outer part of your tooth. Even juices that are 100 percent natural can cause damage. When patients are younger, fluoride treatments aid in developing teeth to strengthen enamel, making them less susceptible to cavities and bacteria.
The treatment itself helps patients’ bodies use minerals such as calcium and phosphate more efficiently to benefit both primary and permanent teeth. After a fluoride treatment, teeth are able to reabsorb the minerals and even repair tooth enamel that may be weak or damaged.
Is fluoride safe?
Yes, fluoride is very safe. For over 70 years, the majority of tap water in the United States has contained small amounts of fluoride to promote oral health. As a result, tooth decay has been reduced by about 25 percent, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The World Health Organization also deemed fluoride treatments capable of improving overall health. The addition of fluoride to water was so successful it was even named a top public health achievement of the 20th century.
What are the benefits of fluoride?
Fluoride contains extraordinary benefits for patients’ overall dental health and significantly reduces the risk of cavities. Other benefits of fluoride include:
- Preventing tooth decay
- Slowing the growth of developing cavities by diminishing bacteria
- Reducing the risk of future cavities
- Limiting future dental work and the expense of dental work
- Extending the life of baby teeth to prevent premature loss of teeth
What can I expect during a fluoride treatment?
Patients typically find fluoride treatments to be extremely easy, quick and painless. The treatment averages around 30 dollars and, used preventatively, can save vast amounts of money and time spent in the dentist’s office in the future. A fluoride treatment simply involves a high amount of fluoride that’s applied to the teeth usually in the form of gel, foam or varnish. Most varnishes are painted on and may feel sticky, but it’s a fast process and sets quickly. If you want to know more about what to expect at your fluoride treatment, you may need to speak with your family dentist.
Should I worry about any side effects of fluoride?
Fluoride treatments are safe for the majority of people and if patients do have side effects they’re most often very minimal. Some natural health advocates have argued fluoride treatments are dangerous for children, but fluoride has proven to be very safe and beneficial. At some level, fluoride is actually found in all-natural water sources.
Because side effects are so minimal, experts recommend that even children who are unable to spit the toothpaste out on their own should use fluoridated toothpaste. When people do experience serious side effects it’s usually from swallowing very large amounts of fluoride.
Even though there is minimal risk associated with fluoride treatments, it does not mean that they’re safe for everyone at all times. If you’re interested in the benefits of fluoride treatments in Olathe, see your local Kansas City dentist and talk about if a fluoride treatment could benefit you.
Who needs fluoride treatments?
Nearly everyone can benefit from a fluoride treatment. Did you know that cavities are the most common disease in children and adults worldwide? Fluoride is one of the safest and easiest ways to prevent cavities for both children in adults.
Children can start to receive benefits from fluoride at a young age. Parents should start to use a very small amount of fluoridated toothpaste as soon as their child has their first tooth, according to The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Even if the child swallows the toothpaste, such a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste does not put them at risk. The CDC and ADA also recommend frequent exposure to fluoride for reducing cavities in patients of all ages.
The proper amount of toothpaste for young children, according to Harvard Assistant Professor, and mom, Dr. Brittany Seymour, is about the size of a grain of rice.
For adults, fluoride treatment needs can vary. Those who are at moderate or high risk of developing tooth decay or getting cavities should seek regular professional fluoride treatments.
