Fluoride Treatment Dentist Cicero, NY
Fluoride has been linked to oral health for decades. It is a naturally occurring mineral that helps to strengthen enamel and prevent cavities from forming. It also helps to fight bacteria in the mouth which can be detrimental to both the teeth and gums of the patient. Cavities can form if the bacteria buildup gets to be too much. We always provide fluoride treatment to all of our patients when they come in for a professional examination and cleaning at our offices. If you have questions about fluoride treatments and want answers, please feel free to reach out to us at Cicero Family Dental Care for details.
Benefits of Fluoride Treatment for Dental Health
Fluoride is one of the best available resources to combat tooth decay. It stymies the harmful bacteria from growing in the oral cavity and saves the tooth enamel from erosion. It makes the enamel stronger, thereby more adept at fighting off cavity development.
The earlier children have fluoride treatments the better the outcome for their teeth. According to the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control, those children who had at least one year of fluoride treatment had a 43% less likely chance to develop tooth decay and cavities when compared to those who did not. They also report prior to fluoride being added to toothpaste, those children who had water with it added were 60% less likely to present with cavities.
It is easy to see how impactful fluoride treatments can be. If you have any questions or need to bring your child in for a fluoride treatment, please feel free to contact us.
How Does Fluoride Strengthen Your Teeth?
Fluoride is a natural mineral that is essential in rebuilding tooth enamel. Enamel is the natural protective coating that surrounds your teeth to protect them from decay. Over time, if you or your child fail to brush properly or consume a lot of sugary or acidic foods, the enamel may start to weaken. When this happens, teeth become vulnerable to plaque buildup. Plaque is essentially just bacteria that is left on the teeth and over time will lead to cavities and tooth decay. Fluoride stops this from happening by strengthening the enamel and allowing your body's natural protection to do its job.
Professional Fluoride Treatments vs. At-Home Options
While fluoride has been added to drinking water, it is not the same strength as the professional fluoride treatment provided at our office. The fluoride we use is a higher concentrated gel, foam or rinse. Our team usually applies the fluoride treatment by swab or brush. They only take a few minutes to apply. We usually ask our patients to not eat or drink anything for 30 minutes after the treatment to make sure the fluoride has had a chance to be absorbed by your teeth. These treatments provide a lasting effect on the patient's teeth.
While most people know water contains fluoride as does toothpaste, there are many other sources to get extra doses of it. These include many varieties of tea, any fish prepared with the bones still intact, food that is cooked in water will all have fluoride too. For babies, infant formula contains a high amount of fluoride as well. Regardless of receiving extra fluoride in foods, it is still imperative to have it done by our offices.
Fluoride Treatment for Children: What Parents Should Know
Fluoride treatments are recommended every six months according to the American Dental Association. If you are in a high-risk group for developing cavities, we may give you a rinse to use at home. Factors that can determine your risk factor for cavities can include alcohol or drug abuse, eating disorder, poor oral hygiene, and diet.
Getting fluoride treatments done for your children is an essential part of their preventative oral care. Fluoride is the single best tool in helping protect your child's natural defense against plaque and preventing tooth decay. Combined with a regular oral health regimen, this noninvasive treatment can become an integral and fun part of your child's dental experience.
The Safety of Fluoride: Addressing Common Concerns
It is a common myth that fluoride is dangerous to your health. While there is a medical condition known as fluorosis, this condition develops only after years of heightened fluoride ingestion. The condition causes white streaks to appear on your child's teeth or gums, and is not harmful beyond its aesthetic effects. Fluoride is actually in most of the water that we drink and there are well known limits that the government places on how much fluoride can be in drinking water.
What Happens During a Fluoride Treatment?
Getting a fluoride treatment is part of your child's normal cleaning procedure. After our dental specialists clean and scrape away excess plaque from your child's teeth, they will then begin the fluoride treatment. The treatment itself consists of a soft, malleable mouthpiece that your child can bite into. This mouthpiece is filled with fluoride, and comes in a variety of flavors to make the treatment palatable. After our specialists place this in your child's mouth, they will have to bite down into it for several minutes to allow the fluoride to absorb into their teeth.
What to Do After a Fluoride Treatment
After your child has seen us, we recommend not eating or drinking anything for at least an hour after leaving our office. The reason for this is that the fluoride treatment has not had enough time to settle into the enamel of their teeth and may be inadvertently stripped from their teeth. If this happens, the procedure will have to be repeated again. We highly suggest eating before the procedure and brushing thoroughly so as to avoid any issues with hunger or thirst while waiting for the fluoride to settle into your child's teeth.
Our dedicated team at Cicero Family Dental Care are proud to offer fluoride treatments for your children as part of our comprehensive oral care plan. No matter if it is part of a routine cleaning or if you would like the treatment more often, we are more than happy to provide this and any other oral health needs you may have. Please contact us today at (680) 688-6026 to learn more. |