No one wants to go to the dentist only to learn that they have cavities. Preventing them relies heavily on proper brushing and flossing at home, but fluoride treatments are also available to help provide extra protection against tooth decay.
Why is fluoride important?
Fluoride is naturally resistant to acids that can harm your teeth and cause decay. It absorbs easily into teeth enamel (especially for children, whose teeth are still growing), and can strengthen the surface of teeth which are fully-developed.
Our teeth go through regular periods of demineralization and remineralization throughout the day, during the very early stages of tooth decay when it is still reversible. Fluoride can help with this remineralization, making the surface of the tooth more resistant to decay than it was before.
Who should get fluoride treatments?
Fluoride treatments are especially beneficial for children, whose teeth are still forming and who may not have established good brushing habits, and aren’t able to use toothpaste with fluoride yet. These treatments are safe, will only take a short time, and will help their teeth to be stronger and more decay-resistant.
Fluoride treatments can work for adults as well, as they can help to replenish calcium and phosphate that has been lost from the very early staged of decay.