Fluoride Treatment
Dentist Kent WA
Dental Fluoride Treatment In Kent WA
For optimal dental health, routine dental exams are essential. There is no need to be afraid of them because they are non-invasive and uncomfortable. The following are the most crucial details of dental examinations:
Why Is Fluoride Important?
Every day, minerals are both added to and removed from a tooth’s enamel (the outer layer that gives a tooth its hardness) (demineralization). By consuming meals and beverages that contain these minerals, the enamel layer is remineralized with fluoride, calcium, and phosphate.
When acids damage the enamel—caused by oral bacteria, certain meals, and drinks—minerals are lost (demineralization). When the enamel loses more minerals than it takes in, tooth decay occurs.
How Does Fluoride Prevent Tooth Decay?
Fluoride increases a tooth’s resistance to acid assaults, which helps to prevent tooth decay. Both in children and adults, fluoride helps to hasten the remineralization of newly erupted teeth.
Where Is Fluoride Found?
Although some foods, such seafood and some teas, naturally contain fluoride, drinking water is the main source of this mineral. Fluoride is present in the tap water of most North American communities. Fluoride is present in some, but not all, bottled waters. Fluoride can also be given directly to teeth by using fluoride-containing toothpaste and mouthwash. Most pharmacies and grocery stores carry these goods. Dentists can also use gel, foam, or varnish to apply fluoride directly to your teeth. In comparison to toothpaste and mouthwash, these products have substantially higher fluoride concentrations. When should the use of fluoride start? Fluoride should be administered to infants and kids between the ages of 6 months and 16 years.
During this time, both their primary teeth and permanent teeth erupt, thus the stronger their enamel, the better. The majority of kids get their first permanent teeth around age 6, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises giving fluoride supplements to kids aged 6 to 16 who are at a high risk for dental caries and whose municipal water supply is subpar. Fluoride supplementation may start sooner in places with low water fluoride levels. Although fluoride is a serious issue for kids and teenagers, adults can also benefit from it. Both adults and children benefit from topical fluoride, which is found in fluoridated toothpastes, mouthwashes, and fluoridated dental treatments.
When Is Additional Fluoride Necessary?
Children and adults with certain oral diseases, such as dry mouth, gum disease, and cavities, may benefit from additional fluoride treatment. Because less saliva is produced when a person has a dry mouth, less food particles are washed away, which reduces the amount of acids that create cavities. Gum disease increases the probability of tooth decay by exposing more of the tooth and the dental roots to microorganisms.
Patients who experience frequent tooth decay and annual tooth decay may benefit from extra fluoride therapy. Patients who have crowns, bridges, or braces may also benefit from more fluoride because the area of the tooth left unprotected may be more susceptible to dental decay. Ask your dentist if you or your children are getting enough fluoride or if you should think about getting fluoride therapy or supplements. He or she might recommend ways to increase your intake of fluoride or prescribe fluoride supplements (in liquid or pill form).
