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Providing quality preventative dentistry in Durham, Raleigh, and Goldsboro.
Did you know that fluoride is the most effective agent for preventing tooth decay? This mineral helps to strengthen your enamel, making it more difficult for the bacteria that cause cavities to damage your teeth. In fact, studies have shown that fluoridated water can prevent 15%-40% of decay. Sometimes, additional fluoride is needed to protect the teeth fully. Fluoride treatments are an extra oral health safeguard for children and adults, especially those prone to cavities.
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral found in soil, water, plants, and certain foods. Some North Carolina water systems fortify the tap water with fluoride, helping to strengthen your enamel with each sip. Other common sources of fluoride are toothpaste, mouthwash, tea, grapes, seafood, potatoes, and other vegetables grown in soil high in fluoride.
Consuming fluoride strengthens teeth’s enamel—the protective outer layer—helping them resist acid attacks from bacteria that create cavities.
When Is Fluoride Treatment Recommended?
Fluoride treatment is appropriate for all ages to maintain optimal oral health. For young children, fluoride is essential during the development of their permanent teeth as it helps prevent future decay. We often suggest fluoride treatments for children starting around the age of six months and continuing through their teenage years.
For adults, fluoride treatments are beneficial for those with a higher risk of cavities, such as individuals with a history of frequent decay, dry mouth conditions, or orthodontic appliances. Seniors can also benefit from fluoride to combat age-related tooth wear and sensitivity. Regular fluoride treatments are a proactive measure to enhance enamel strength and protect against cavities for all age groups.
The Process
Fluoride treatments at Carolina Dental Arts are quick, straightforward, and painless, making them perfect for children.
First, we will clean your teeth thoroughly, removing any plaque or debris. Once your teeth are clean and dry, we will begin the fluoride treatment.
The concentrated fluoride solution comes as a gel, foam, or varnish. We apply this carefully to the surfaces of your teeth using a brush, tray, or swab. You will then need to keep your mouth closed for a few minutes, allowing the fluoride to penetrate the enamel. During this time, we may ask you to avoid swallowing to ensure the fluoride remains on your teeth. After a few minutes, you can spit out any excess fluoride.
We’ll instruct you to avoid eating or drinking anything for at least 30 minutes to allow the fluoride to fully absorb and maximize its protective benefits.
The Benefits of Fluoride Treatment
- Strengthens tooth enamel: Fluoride makes the tooth enamel tougher and more resistant to mineral loss caused by acids. It does so by disrupting the activity of oral bacteria that produce acids, slowing down the demineralization process that leads to cavities.
- Promotes remineralization: It helps redeposit essential minerals like fluoride, calcium, and phosphate onto the enamel, helping to reverse the early stages of tooth decay.
- Protects developing teeth in children: For children under 6, fluoride is integrated into the growing permanent teeth, making them less susceptible to future decay.
- Continues enamel strengthening for adults: In adults, fluoride from toothpaste, rinses, and other products continues to fortify and remineralize tooth enamel, maintaining long-term oral health.
Flouride Treatment vs. Dental Sealants
At Carolina Dental Arts, we offer fluoride treatments and dental sealants to protect teeth from developing cavities. Both services are important components of a comprehensive preventative oral health strategy.
Sealants are protective coatings, typically made from plastic resin, that we apply over molars and premolars. These teeth are especially prone to cavities because of their deep pits and grooves, which can collect food particles and bacteria. The sealant material forms a smooth barrier over the grooves, making them easier to clean and keeping bacteria at bay. While sealants are especially helpful for children and teenagers, adults can also benefit from them.
Combining fluoride treatments with dental sealants creates a more effective defense against cavities. Fluoride strengthens the entire tooth surface, while sealants provide extra protection in the areas most prone to decay. This dual approach ensures a stronger preventative strategy for maintaining optimal oral health.
Protect Your Teeth With Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride treatments help prevent decay by strengthening your tooth enamel, promoting stronger overall oral health. These treatments benefit individuals of all ages, providing extra protection against cavities and enhancing your teeth’s natural defense mechanisms.
At Carolina Dental Arts, we are dedicated to delivering high-quality dentistry for the entire family. Our goal is to build long-lasting relationships with our patients, ensuring they receive continuous, personalized care throughout their lives. We look forward to partnering with you to maintain healthy, beautiful smiles for your whole family. Schedule your fluoride treatment with us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Fluoride can reverse early stages of tooth decay by promoting a process called remineralization. When applied to the teeth, fluoride helps redeposit essential minerals like calcium and phosphate back into the enamel, strengthening the tooth and repairing small cavities before they progress.
While fluoride is highly effective in stopping and even reversing early decay, it cannot repair larger cavities that have already caused significant damage. In these cases, more extensive dental treatments like fillings, inlays and onlays, or crowns are necessary. Regular fluoride treatments, combined with good oral hygiene practices, can help keep your teeth strong and healthy, preventing the development of more serious cavities.
Excessive fluoride exposure, particularly during the development of children’s teeth, can lead to dental fluorosis. This condition can cause white patches on the teeth or more noticeable discoloration and uneven surfaces.
It’s important to use fluoride products as directed and monitor children’s fluoride intake from all sources, including drinking water, toothpaste, and professional treatments. At your routine visits, we’ll discuss whether you and your family are receiving the appropriate amount of fluoride for optimal dental health without the risk of overexposure.
Fluoride is safe and effective when used properly. It has been extensively studied and proven to significantly reduce the risk of tooth decay and cavities. The levels of fluoride used in public water supplies, toothpaste, and professional dental treatments are carefully regulated to ensure they provide maximum benefits with minimal risk. When used according to guidelines, fluoride poses no harm to children or adults.
We recommend using fluoride toothpaste and receiving regular fluoride treatments as part of a comprehensive oral hygiene routine. However, it’s important to follow recommended dosages and consult with us to ensure you are using fluoride products correctly to avoid potential overexposure.
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