Categories: Blog

Advantages of Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride has been getting a bad rap for a decade or so for no good reason. The critics allege fluoride compromises human health in a variety of ways. The internet is rife with half-truths and bald-faced lies about the subject of fluoride treatment. In reality, the application and ingestion of fluoride in measured amounts is beneficial for achieving and maintaining optimal oral health. Though you can get fluoride from toothpaste, tap water, and mouth rinses, your mouth also needs fluoride treatment provided at the dentist’s office. Professional fluoride treatment involves the application of a strong fluoride you cannot find in local stores. Let’s take a closer look at the many merits of fluoride treatment.

Fluoride Strengthens Tooth Enamel to Prevent Cavities

Human teeth endure an ongoing battle between the forces of demineralization and remineralization. Demineralization involves bacteria within the mouth consuming carbohydrates to generate acid. This acid weakens the surface of the protective coating around teeth known as enamel. If tooth enamel is exposed to enough acid, it becomes soft and gradually decays in a process referred to as demineralization.

Saliva contains minerals such as phosphate and calcium that remineralize tooth enamel. In fact, these minerals are constantly remineralizing tooth enamel throughout the day. This remineralization hardens and bolsters tooth enamel to offset some of the negative results of the demineralization process described above. Fluoride¹ is essential for rapid remineralization. If tooth enamel is not remineralized in a reasonable amount of time, cavities are that much more likely to occur. Have your teeth professional treated with a fluoride application and you really will be that much less likely to end up with cavities.

Professional Fluoride Treatments can Reverse Tiny Cavities

If a cavity is forming in your mouth, there is a chance professional fluoride treatments will reverse its progress. Though there is no guarantee fluoride will reverse the progression of small cavities, the timely application of fluoride just might help you avoid the dental drill. Maintain an excellent oral hygiene regimen at home, meet with the dentist for regular fluoride treatments and you will have done everything in your power to stop or even reverse the onset of those tiny cavities into becoming much larger problems.

Eat and Drink Whatever You Desire After Your Fluoride Treatment

Let the dentist treat your teeth with fluoride and you won’t be limited to certain activities or foods. Simply wait half an hour prior to eating or drinking and you can devour anything you have a hankering for. Fluoride is a completely safe and natural mineral that improves oral health without forcing you to make significant life alterations of any sort.

Professional Fluoride Treatments are Safe, Painless and Stain-free

Let the dentist treat your teeth with fluoride every three months or so and your teeth will prove that much stronger. There is absolutely no risk to fluoride treatment at these intervals. Though the web is chock full of lies about the alleged health risks of fluoride, systemic reviews of the data pertaining to fluoride safety found no link between fluoridation and cancer, bone fractures or other physical ailments.

The ingestion of excess fluoride can cause health issues yet the fluoride applied to your teeth at the dentist’s office is perfectly safe. There is no risk of the fluoride treatment staining your teeth. Nor is there any potential for the fluoride treatment to hurt. This is a fairly simple, non-invasive yet important treatment that will prove pain-free.

Fluoride Treatments Benefit Patients of all Ages

Patients of all ages are vulnerable to cavities yet there is a common misconception fluoride treatments are meant for children. Fluoride enhances the remineralization process for every single tooth in the mouth, regardless of the patient’s age. If you have had cavities in the past or are at an elevated risk for cavities, do not skip a single scheduled fluoride treatment at your dentist’s office.

Senior citizens who struggle to maintain oral hygiene will find fluoride treatments to be quite helpful. Some elderly patients simply cannot remove plaque from their teeth so they face quite the elevated risk for cavities. If you are a senior citizen, meet with our dentist at least once every couple months. The application of fluoride treatment every 3-6 months will go a long way in keeping your teeth functional throughout the aging process. Fluoride treatments are also of the utmost importance for patients with special needs. These individuals often struggle to keep their teeth in tip-top shape so they are that much more vulnerable to cavities.

Fluoride Minimizes Tooth Sensitivity

If you are like most people, you have experienced sensitive teeth at one point or another. Fluoride treatment decreases tooth sensitivity while simultaneously combating cavities. The little-known truth is plenty of adults elect to receive fluoride treatments to decrease the discomfort resulting from sensitive teeth. If you notice sensations in your teeth when eating or drinking or if you have pain during dental cleanings, it is a clear sign your teeth are sensitive. Opt for fluoride treatment and you will likely find cleaning sessions prove much more comfortable.

Schedule Your Appointment at Pleasant Hill Dental

If you have not had a fluoride treatment at the dentist’s office in a year or longer, it is time to visit our office. Let our dentist evaluate your mouth, apply fluoride treatment and ultimately improve your oral health and beauty. Give us a call at (925) 693-7077 to schedule your appointment.