Most people know at least a bit about fluoride and probably use fluoridated toothpaste and perhaps fluoride mouthwash. However, professional fluoride treatments are a bit different as they are much stronger, are applied topically, and can only be administered by a dental professional. Fluoride can provide many benefits for your teeth.
Fluoride Is a Naturally Occurring Mineral
Fluoride is a mineral found in water, rocks and soil. It often appears in natural groundwater in varying quantities, which is why some water supplies have zero fluoride while others can contain too much fluoride.
Professional Fluoride Treatments Are a Cost-Effective Option
When we offer a patient a professional fluoride treatment, it’s well worth the cost. It is a preventive therapy that helps protect oral health by fighting cavities in Oshawa. Preventive dentistry is always far cheaper than treating tooth decay or more extensive dental infections, or in the worst case, tooth loss.
Fluoride Strengthens Tooth Enamel
The reason why fluoride is so effective is that it helps to strengthen tooth enamel. Your tooth enamel is continually demineralizing and remineralizing. Demineralization occurs when bacteria in the mouth feast on leftover particles of food, producing acid as a byproduct and which weakens tooth enamel, removing some minerals so the enamel is softer and more likely to decay. Cavities can develop when demineralization occurs more often than remineralization. Remineralization occurs as your mouth becomes less acidic, and minerals in your saliva are re-deposited back into the enamel, helping to re-harden it. Fluoride helps this process occur more efficiently, reducing your risk of cavities.
Fluoride Treatments Aren’t Just for Kids
Anyone of any age can benefit from professional fluoride treatments, especially if they have a higher risk of cavities. This may be the case for anyone who struggles to maintain good oral hygiene, perhaps because of dexterity problems or who has other issues like dry mouth that can increase the risk of tooth decay. Additionally, fluoride treatments help reduce tooth sensitivity in Whitby.
Reversing the Early Signs of Cavities
During your dental examination at Margolian Dentistry, we examine each tooth carefully for any signs of soft or weak spots in the tooth enamel. These lesions can indicate the early signs of a cavity, and sometimes it’s possible to stop a cavity in its tracks with a professional fluoride treatment in Ajax.
Professional Fluoride Treatments Are Safe
Professional strength fluoride treatments are extremely safe because they are properly applied and given at the correct intervals. Although there is a risk with ingesting too much fluoride, you would need to swallow a lot of prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste for this to be a problem. This is why dentists may recommend children use fluoride-free toothpaste until they can spit out any excess or otherwise that only a tiny smear of fluoridated toothpaste is used to clean their teeth.
Professional Strength Fluoride Treatments Will Not Stain Your Teeth
Dental fluorosis, a condition that causes teeth to become stained with white or brown flecks, occurs when too much fluoride is ingested while teeth are still forming. It cannot happen after teeth are formed, so you can rest assured that a professional strength fluoride treatment will not stain your teeth.
Professional Fluoride Treatments Are Painless
A professional fluoride treatment in Ajax is probably the simplest treatment provided in a dental office. Fluoride is applied as a varnish, gel, or foam and is painless and minimally invasive.
We may recommend a professional fluoride treatment when you visit Margolian Dentistry for a checkup and hygiene appointment. It is a preventive dentistry treatment that is highly effective and safe, and of course, we are always willing to answer any questions you may have about fluoride and how it will help you.