There are many factors that can help improve your oral health—but even if you do practice proper dental hygiene you still could get infections and cavities without regular dental visits. In addition to better dental hygiene equipment, routine dental appointments are necessary to keep your oral health strong because of the fluoride treatments we have available.
While using fluoride toothpaste can go a long way in protecting your teeth, for optimal oral health, fluoride treatments are an ideal option. Because they are fast and can easily be done, this treatment is usually done during your routine dental checkup at the dental office.
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is an element found naturally in most drinking water. Using small amounts of fluoride regularly can decrease your risk of tooth decay. Many dental products contain fluoride to help increase the amount of fluoride to continue to prevent tooth decay.
Why Do I Need Fluoride?
When you eat or drink, the bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugars and starches and release acids that erode the protective layer of the teeth, known as the enamel.
When the enamel breaks down, tooth decay (or cavities) can occur. Fluoride penetrates the enamel, making it stronger and more resistant to acid attacks, and it can even reverse very early tooth decay. It also promotes remineralization, a process where minerals are redeposited into the enamel after the acids strip them away (demineralization).
Fluoride essentially fills the tooth and builds up the enamel to protect against cavities and wear on the enamel that naturally happens from aging and the food you eat. For stronger oral health and a decrease in tooth decay, fluoride is an easy and simple treatment that goes a long way.
What Happens in a Fluoride Treatment at the Dentist?
Although most people already receive fluoride from food, water, and toothpaste, sometimes it’s not enough to help prevent decay. That’s why we recommend professional fluoride treatment at Peter Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. These treatments have much more fluoride than what’s in your water or toothpaste and, therefore, are much more effective at protecting your teeth.
Professional fluoride treatments come in the form of a highly concentrated rinse, foam, gel, or varnish and can be applied with a swab, brush, tray, or mouthwash. This simple application makes getting fluoride treatments quick and efficient to save you time.
For a couple minutes longer at your checkup, you are saving yourself hours in future treatments. Other forms of fluoride from toothpaste are not as reliable as professional fluoride treatments. While we won’t discourage other forms of fluoride, it is important to still receive dentist-approved fluoride that has the necessary amount for optimal protection.
What Are the Benefits of a Fluoride Treatment?
In the same way that professional cleaning is more effective than your everyday teeth brushing session, a fluoride gel treatment works longer and more efficiently than anything you might use at home. They are quick, painless, and low-cost in most cases. Professional fluoride treatment has several benefits, including:
- Reduces the risk of cavities.
- Slows the growth of cavities.
- Delays the need for expensive dental work
- Prolongs the life of baby teeth
- Reduces the amount of time and money a person has to spend on dental treatments
No one wants cavities or tooth decay so getting a treatment to help avoid these issues is well worth it. Getting a filling or root canal is a time-consuming process that could easily be solved by being proactive and getting a fluoride treatment.
Professional Fluoride Treatment Process
Fluoride treatment application is a fairly quick and painless process that usually only takes less than a minute. The treatment is directly applied to the surface of each tooth following your dental cleaning. With new fluoride varnishes, you can eat or drink immediately after it is applied- no more waiting!
We recommend that you abstain from chewing crunchy foods or brushing your teeth for at least 4 hours after your fluoride treatment to ensure the fluoride penetrates the tooth effectively.
Who Should Get Fluoride Treatments?
Although fluoride gel treatments are typically administered to children, adults can also benefit from this service. No matter your age, you can always benefit from a boost to your oral health. At Peter Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we provide the following fluoride treatments:
Fluoride treatments for kids:
Fluoride joins into the tooth structure when teeth are developing to strengthen the enamel of the teeth, making them less vulnerable to bacteria and cavities for life and slowing or even reversing the development of cavities by harming bacteria that cause them.
In younger children who still have their baby teeth, fluoride gets incorporated into their developing permanent teeth. When permanent teeth erupt, they are less prone to cavities.
Fluoride treatments for adults:
Adults, especially those with moderate-to-high risk of developing tooth decay, also benefit from fluoride treatment. Excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, poor oral hygiene, chronic dry mouth, poor oral hygiene, weak enamel, and poor diet can increase your risk of cavities.
Experts recommend that adults at high risk of cavities get professional fluoride treatments twice a year.
Professional Fluoride Treatment Cost
Insurance usually covers fluoride treatments for children. However, adults with dental insurance will usually only have a portion of their fluoride treatment covered by their insurance company—however it is still largely affordable.
If insurance is not the right path for you and you still want to protect your oral health, Peter Family & Cosmetic Dentistry has payment plans available for you and your family. We want to help you get the treatment you need without stressing about the cost. In the long run, fluoride treatments will save you from unnecessary pain and that is priceless.
Additionally, fluoride treatments are a fast, inexpensive, and simple treatment that not only strengthens your oral health but can save you time and money in the future.
Schedule Your Fluoride Treatment Appointment Today!
Undergoing routine fluoride treatments at the Peter Family & Cosmetic Dentistry and practicing good dental hygiene at home are the best ways to protect your smile. With how simple this treatment is, there really is not anything keeping you from protecting your oral health and strengthening your teeth.
Take control of your family’s dental health and get the fluoride treatment together. Rest assured knowing your family is helping prevent cavities and tooth decay. Contact us today to schedule your appointment and let us protect you and your family against cavities!