Why Are Fluoride Treatments Essential?

Fluoride occurs naturally as a mineral to help build strong teeth and prevent cavities. For over seven decades, tap water in America contains trace amounts of fluoride as a measure against tooth decay. Approximately 25 percent of tooth decay is reduced by fluoridated water, states the CDC.

Fluoride treatment near you may offer significant benefits to protect your teeth. The treatments are beneficial to everyone at risk of tooth decay but may not be suitable for some. This article looks at the benefits and treatment recommendations of fluoride for your reference.

What Are Fluoride Treatments?

Fluoride treatments are generally professional treatments provided by the dental clinic in Knoxville. Dentists at the clinic apply a higher concentration of fluoride to your teeth to improve their health and reduce the risk of cavities. In-office fluoride treatments are available from dentists in the form of a solution, foam, varnish, or gel.

You can also find highly concentrated fluoride treatments for use at home but must refrain from doing so unless a dentist recommends it.

The fluoride used by dentists during in-office treatments is the same as the fluoride in toothpaste. However, the treatments contain higher concentrations of immediate benefits.

Benefits of in Office Fluoride Treatments

Your teeth benefit in many ways when you receive in-office fluoride treatments. They are:

• Fluoride helps the body to make better use of minerals like calcium and phosphate. In addition, the weakened tooth enamel is repaired when the teeth reabsorb these minerals.
• Fluoride combines into the tooth structure during the developmental stages to strengthen the enamel of the teeth, making them less vulnerable to microorganisms and cavities for life.
• Fluoride can slow or even reverse the development of cavities by harming the microorganisms that cause them.

When the above benefits are combined to they help to:

• Reduce or slow the growth and risk of cavities.
• Delay the requirement for expensive dental work.
• Prolong the life of baby teeth.
• Reduce the time and money you have to spend at a dentist’s office.

When you prevent cavities and slow down the growth of bacteria by receiving fluoride treatment from the dentist in Knoxville, you also avoid the occurrence of periodontitis, premature loss of teeth, and reduce tooth pain.

Recommendations for Fluoride Treatments

Everyone is recommended exposure to small amounts of fluoride every day to reduce the risk of dental cavities, according to the CDC and the ADA. People in America can use tap water for drinking and brushing their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Children and adults at a higher risk of cavities can benefit from fluoride treatments from a dentist.

All children are recommended fluoride treatments by the American Academy of pediatrics as soon as their teeth begin to emerge to prevent tooth decay, discomfort, and dental infections needing treatments from the emergency dentist in Knoxville. In addition, dentists must assess the child’s risk of cavities and repeat in-office fluoride treatments every 3 to 6 months.

Fluoride treatment recommendations for adults vary because various studies have investigated different concentrations, treatment frequencies, and doses. If you are at a moderate to high risk of developing tooth decay, you receive help from fluoride treatments. Experts recommend people at increased risk of developing cavities receive in-office professional fluoride treatments twice a year from Dr. Terrie Cribbs.

You can discuss the risks and benefits of fluoride treatment with the dentist because it is essential to consider all sources of fluoride you get, including toothpaste and mouthwash. You receive more significant benefits of regular fluoride treatments if you live in an area where fluoridated water is unavailable.

If you are advised fluoride treatments as a restorative measure against tooth decay and cavities, it helps to understand that fluoride strengthens your tooth enamel, making it challenging for the bacteria in your mouth to penetrate it. Fluoride treatments are entirely safe for everyone. Even if you experience any side effects, there is no reason for you to remain concerned about them. Overdosing on large quantities of fluoride is the only reason why you may develop any side effects. However, if you already have cavities or are at risk of tooth decay, you should discuss your concerns with a dentist you trust before undergoing fluoride treatments.

Fearing fluoride treatments is not likely to help you, especially if you want to protect your teeth from tooth decay and cavities. It helps if you have an additional barrier of protection for your teeth to prevent cavities altogether instead of suffering the consequences of having them.