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Fluoride Treatment Practicing proper oral hygiene every day is essential to prevent the spread of tooth decay, also known as dental caries. Tooth decay occurs when acid-producing bacteria forms around your teeth and gums, producing a clear, sticky film known as plaque. To remove plaque, brush and floss your teeth twice a day. Coming into our office for regular dental exams and cleanings will also go a long way toward keeping your teeth healthy. Fluoride treatments are also effective in preventing tooth decay. What is Fluoride?Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in all water sources, including oceans. Research has shown that fluoride reduces cavities in both children and adults and prevents tooth decay. It can even help repair teeth in very early stages of this disease before the decay is even visible. Fluoride is an effective means to reduce cavities and is utilized even for children as young as age 2. How Does Fluoride Work?Once it makes contact with your teeth, fluoride is absorbed into the enamel. The fluoride then takes part in a process called remineralization, where the fluoride provides calcium and phosphorus to the enamel, so your teeth remain hard. When fluoride is active during remineralization, the minerals that are deposited into the enamel will strengthen the teeth and guard against dissolution during the next phase of demineralization. This is how fluoride prevents the process of tooth decay. What are Fluoride Treatments and How Do They Work?During treatments, we offer fluoride in two forms:
For best results, receive both topical and systemic fluorides. If you are at a moderate-to-high risk of tooth decay, we recommend coming in for a professional fluoride treatment. The fluoride treatments we apply in our office come in a much stronger concentration than the fluoride toothpaste or mouthwashes available at local drugstores or pharmacies. What Happens During a Fluoride Treatment?Our professional fluoride treatments usually take only a few minutes. We offer fluoride in the form of a foam, gel, solution, or varnish. We generally apply it with a brush or cotton swab, but we also use it as a rinse or place it in a tray that is held in your mouth for several minutes. Once the treatment is completed, we may ask you not to eat, drink, or rinse for at least 30 minutes so that the teeth can absorb the fluoride and repair microscopic areas affected by tooth decay. Dr. Crumpton recommends fluoride treatments once every 3, 6, or 12 months depending on your oral health. He may also recommend other methods of preventing tooth decay if you are at a moderate-to-high risk of developing it. These methods can include prescription or over-the-counter therapeutic products such as fluoride or antibacterial mouthwashes, as well as gels and other items. We encourage our patients to brush their teeth with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day for two minutes, particularly after breakfast and before going to bed. To schedule a fluoride treatment, call our office at 817-678-7395. |
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