How Fluoride Fights Dental Problems?
Including fluoride treatments in your oral regimen can help you achieve a healthy, white smile that regular brushing alone can’t give. Fluoride has been touted by the American Dental Association as “nature’s cavity fighter,” and it provides a ton of benefits for patients who want to have a beaming smile.
How can fluoride improve your oral health?
Here’s what you need to know about dental fluoride.
What is Dental Fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral that is commonly found in your bones and teeth, and it also naturally occurs in the water, plants, soil and rocks. Fluoride also takes various forms; it can be a solid, liquid or gas. This naturally-occurring mineral is known to strengthen the teeth and prevents tooth decay. It is for this very reason that small doses of fluoride are added to the drinking water of municipalities so as to reduce the prevalence of tooth decay.
Fluoride is also used in toothpaste, mouth rinse and other oral care products. Fluoride is also used by dental professionals as a concentrated treatment to help patients to have strong teeth. Fluoride treatments usually come in flavored foam that is applied to the teeth of the patient.
Benefits of Fluoride
Opting for a fluoride treatment can give you numerous benefits. Tooth enamel protects your teeth against bacteria that cause cavities and fluoride helps reinforce the enamel of your teeth so it can stay strong.
Through normal wear and tear, the enamel of your teeth loses minerals. Using fluoride can also slow down this mineral loss. Fluoride also reverses the early signs of tooth decay and prevent possible tooth loss.
How Does Fluoride Prevent Cavities?
As mentioned, fluoride helps strengthen the enamel of your teeth and makes it more resistant to bacteria and acid. When plaque builds up in our teeth, the bacteria eats away the enamel and mineral on the tooth. This is a process called demineralization.
Fluoride helps protect our teeth by promoting the process of remineralization. It aids in replacing the lost minerals with stronger and less susceptible ones. Aside from that, fluoride also acts as protection against the acid that causes tooth decay. It blocks harmful enzymes and prevents bacteria from producing the acid that damages the tooth enamel.
Do You Need Fluoride?
Children who are under 7 years of age benefit greatly from fluoride because their tooth enamel is still in its developmental stage. When the proper amount of fluoride is applied during these ages, the structure of the enamel will be strengthened and it will be more resistant to bacteria and acid that causes tooth decay.
However, it does not mean that adults will not benefit from fluoride treatments because these treatments work on people of all ages. To make sure that you are getting enough amount of fluoride for your dental needs, discuss with your dentist the best treatment plans for you. For Charlotte and Concord Mills patients, visit us at Modern Family Dental Care and we will provide you with fluoride treatments that will help you achieve your dental goals.
