Tooth decay among adults in the U.S. has decreased in recent years, but it’s still a common dental problem. Fluoride treatments can provide you with protection from tooth decay by making your tooth enamel stronger. At Lovett Dental Heights, we offer these treatments if you’re not getting enough fluoride at home and have certain dental issues. Find out more about fluoride treatments during teeth cleaning to keep you safe from tooth decay.
Fluoride Treatments For Strong, Beautiful Smiles
Fluoride is a mineral found in some foods and sources of water. When you get fluoride from food or water, your tooth enamel absorbs this mineral. Fluoride then repairs tooth enamel and makes it stronger, which is known as remineralization. Tooth enamel provides your teeth with protection from bacteria and plaque that lead to tooth decay. When this enamel becomes worn, your teeth can end up with severe decay over time. Having fluoride treatments helps prevent this from occurring and can also repair decay in the early stages.
Benefits of Flouride Treatments
General dentists might recommend having fluoride treatments done for several reasons, such as:
- Not getting enough fluoride from local drinking water sources
- Having signs of tooth decay, such as pits in the teeth
- Having a history of tooth decay in recent years
- Eating a diet filled with a high amount of carbs and sugar
- Lacking good oral hygiene practices, such as not brushing and flossing regularly or having routine cleanings done
- Having root surfaces that are exposed
- Low supply of saliva from underlying health conditions or medications
Keep in mind that you naturally get some fluoride in certain foods and from your tap water if your town or city adds this mineral to local water supplies. You can also get fluoride on a regular basis by using oral care products that contain this mineral, such as certain toothpaste or mouthwash products. In some cases, this still isn’t enough to provide your teeth with good protection from tooth decay. Your dentist can let you know if fluoride treatments are right for you.
Children typically have fluoride treatments done as part of their routine dental cleanings twice a year. These treatments help protect their baby teeth from tooth decay that can cause problems with tooth development.
While fluoride treatments effectively reduce the risk of cavities, they’re only part of tooth decay prevention. You’ll also need to make sure that you’re brushing and flossing your teeth and gums daily to keep them healthy. You’ll need to have dental cleanings and exams done twice a year as well. Pediatric dentistry helps your little ones prevent tooth decay.
What to Expect During a Treatment
Dentists usually do topical fluoride treatments for adults and children. These treatments involve having fluoride applied to your teeth in a gel form or another form during your cleaning. With gel forms, you can expect to have a mouthguard filled with this substance in your mouth for a few minutes. You might need to avoid drinking or eating for a short time afterward.
Fluoride treatments might also come in forms that can be done at home, such as applying a gel to your teeth. Infants and younger children sometimes take fluoride supplements to strengthen their teeth, including teeth that haven’t come through the gums yet. Dentists monitor this type of fluoride treatment carefully to lower the risk of having white spots appear on developing teeth.
Fluoride Treatments at Lovett Dental Heights
If you need fluoride treatment, please call Lovett Dental Heights at 832-767-2210 today to schedule an appointment. Our dentists can provide you with a topical fluoride treatment to protect your teeth from decay. Contact us to love your smile even more!