If you have ever suffered from gum disease or have gotten your teeth deep cleaned, you might have heard the term ‘fluoride’ from your dentist or read it online. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water or some of the foods you consume. It helps in stopping tooth decay and promotes remineralization of your teeth.
It is also important to note that huge amounts of fluoride can damage your health. Regardless, you need not worry about it as it is unavailable in such quantities in anything you consume daily. You can click on the link to avail of the best dental care for your family in Greenbelt. Until then, you can read these general facts about fluoride to know more about oral care.
How is fluoride helpful?
As you consume different foods and drinks every day, your teeth gain and lose minerals. For instance, consuming certain kinds of beverages might promote the wearing off of your enamel or the outermost layer of your teeth. And if you eat calcium and fiber-rich food, it helps build and maintain teeth. These processes are respectively called demineralization and remineralization of teeth.
If the rate of demineralization is more than that of remineralization, the enamel starts wearing off. Sometimes, the bacteria in your mouth produce acids that damage the enamel. Fluoride prevents this by increasing the teeth’s resistance to acids, thus preventing tooth decay.
What are some types of fluoride treatments?
Most kinds of toothpaste today contain fluoride. In fact, the mineral-treated water you consume also contains this mineral, apart from the different kinds of foods you eat daily. Even then, a dentist might use the following treatments to prevent tooth decay:
- Fluoride gels or foams are applied to the teeth using trays that enable the absorption of the mineral into the teeth.
- Fluoride varnish includes applying a sticky substance on your teeth to facilitate the gradual absorption of fluoride over time.
- Sometimes, fluoride supplements in the form of tablets or drops can be prescribed by your dentist.
Benefits of fluoride treatment
There are numerous benefits of fluoride treatment, such as:
- First and foremost, it prevents tooth decay by strengthening your teeth and preventing cavity formation. As mentioned earlier, remineralization is caused by fluoride, thus preventing tooth decay.
- Fluoride creates a protective layer over the enamel, thus increasing its resistance against bacteria that produce acids in your mouth.
- It also prevents the possibility of gum disease, thus also erasing any chances of periodontitis.
- Fluoride treatments work hand in hand with your regular oral hygiene practices like brushing and flossing to give your teeth added protection against tooth decay.
