While your tooth enamel is the strongest tissue in your body, it’s not immune to destruction. The enamel comprises over 95% minerals. Over time, acids from oral bacteria and foods can erode these minerals, weakening your enamel and making your tooth vulnerable to damage and infections.
Regular fluoride treatments are an excellent addition to daily oral hygiene practices, like brushing and flossing. Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps restore lost minerals to your tooth enamel, strengthening your teeth and protecting them from cavities and fractures. It also helps fight the bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay. Read on to learn more about fluoride treatments for adults.
Fluoride treatments are a part of preventive dentistry. The treatment comes in various forms like gels, foam, varnish, and rinse. These contain high fluoride concentrations and can be applied using a soft brush, swab, tray, or mouthwash. The treatment only takes about 30 minutes.
A professional fluoride treatment in Fort Atkinson contains more fluoride than fluoride toothpaste, food, or toothpaste. The concentration and number of fluoride treatments you can have depend on factors like your age or oral health. Most people have routine fluoride treatments every 3, 6, or 12 months. Sometimes your dentist can also recommend fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash at home.
People at greater risk of dental issues like cavities need more frequent than those with a lower risk. Factors that can increase your risk of dental problems include:
Besides professional fluoride treatments, you can obtain fluoride from other sources, including:
Below are key reasons for getting regular fluoride treatments:
Acids from the mouth, oral bacteria, and foods can break down the minerals in your enamel, significantly weakening it. Fluoride works by restoring essential minerals to your tooth enamel. In some cases, fluoride treatments are crucial to reverse the early stages of cavities.
Enamel protects the inner structures of your teeth from external factors like heat and trauma. Weakened enamel makes your tooth vulnerable to infections and fractures. Fluoride treatments remineralize your enamel, making it less susceptible to bacterial attacks and fractures.
When your enamel is weakened, the underlying dentin layer can be exposed. The dentin comprises numerous tubules leading to the nerves within the pulp. With these nerves exposed, external factors like hot coffee or ice can cause your teeth to feel sensitive or painful.
Regular fluoride treatments and toothpaste can help reduce teeth discomfort if your teeth are naturally sensitive. Fluoride helps restore lost minerals in the enamel, making your teeth less susceptible to heat, cold, and sugar.
As your enamel gets eroded or thins over time, it exposes the underlying dentin layer, giving your teeth a yellow effect. Routine fluoride treatments help remineralize the tooth enamel and reduce erosion, ultimately helping you maintain healthier and brighter teeth.
Professional fluoride treatments contain more fluoride minerals than other sources like over-the-counter fluoride treatments, toothpaste, mouthwash, tap water, and rinses. Therefore, they are more effective at protecting your teeth from decay and fractures.
Like most things, too much fluoride can have negative consequences such as:
Fluoride overdose through supplement pills can lead to:
Use the following tips to care for your teeth and mouth:
Would you like to schedule your next fluoride treatment? Contact Rock River Dental to schedule a consultation with our dentist near you.