One of the last things that happen at every dental checkup or dental cleaning at a dentist near you is this question or recommendation by your dentist or their hygienist: “Are you ready for fluoride treatment?” You’ve heard the words, but do you know why dentists recommend fluoride? Here are the benefits of regular fluoride treatment.
Remineralization
The acidic foods and beverages that we consume all erode minerals from our tooth surfaces. So does the action of bacteria in our mouth as they break down food. Regular fluoride applications help restore some of those minerals to keep our teeth as strong as possible and to get them stronger.
Cavity prevention
While they’re not visible to the naked eye, your teeth are covered in small and hollow tubes that extend from the interior pulp area of your tooth out to the dentin layer just below your enamel. Over time, bacteria in your mouth accumulate in those tubules and contribute to tooth decay and the development of cavities. Fluoride treatment near you kills bacteria that get lodged in those tubules and also fills the tiniest microscopic holes that are the earliest stage of tooth decay before those holes can penetrate deeper into your teeth.
Cost savings
Getting fluoride treatment from a dentist in Edina isn’t free, but it’s an obvious bargain compared to the cost of getting fillings to treat a cavity or, in the worst-case scenario, having to undergo a root canal or extraction because of tooth decay that has progressed to a severe infection affecting the interior of a tooth.
Preventing stains
We mentioned above that fluoride fills the tubules in your teeth. Even beyond cavity prevention, there’s an added benefit to that effect of fluoride: When those tubules are filled with fluoride, it makes it much more difficult for stains to develop on your teeth. Fluoride not only helps to keep your teeth healthier, but it also helps to keep them cleaner and more beautiful, too.
Preventing teeth sensitivity
We mentioned above that fluoride fills the tiniest holes, which are the earliest signs of tooth decay. That’s important to prevent the further penetration of tooth decay into your tooth to form cavities. It’s important for another reason, too: The bacterial activity and acidic foods and beverages we consume gradually work through the enamel to expose the dentin layer just beneath your enamel. When that happens, your teeth become increasingly sensitive to hot and cold substances. By filling those tiny holes, fluoride protects your teeth from increasing sensitivity while simultaneously protecting the interior layers of your teeth from cavities.
There are three main ways that a dentist near you applies fluoride to your teeth: by “painting” a fluoride layer onto your teeth, where it will stay for four to six hours before you brush it away; by placing fluoride in a tray that is fit over your teeth for as long as necessary before it is removed so you can brush your teeth; and via a fluoride mouthwash that you swish around your mouth and teeth before spitting it out and brushing your teeth.
Most dentists recommend that people (especially children) receive fluoride treatment in Edina once every six months, though that general guideline is very flexible. People who are particularly vulnerable to developing cavities, who have poor oral hygiene or who have low saliva production should receive fluoride more often — every three months. Others who are at a much lower risk of cavity development may only require fluoride annually.
Your dentist in Edina will recommend the most appropriate fluoride regimen at your regular twice-annual checkups. Fluoride isn’t a substitute for regular dental checkups, brushing, flossing and annual teeth cleanings, but it can help to keep your teeth strong, healthy and beautiful quickly and conveniently.