At Liberty Family Dentistry, we work hard to help all of our patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health with comprehensive general and preventative dental care in addition to providing recommendations for at-home oral hygiene. Every patient's oral health routine should include the use of fluoride which plays an integral role in tooth development and formation and ongoing oral health.
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is commonly used and recommended in oral hygiene practices and preventative dental care treatments.
The Role of Fluoride in Oral Health
Our teeth are made of minerals including fluoride, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. So, fluoride is an integral component of the actual structures of the teeth and their hard outer layers (enamel and dentin). Fluoride is essential when a child's teeth are growing and developing, and it continues to be important for oral health, as it helps to maintain the strength of the teeth and their mineral structure throughout life.
The Benefits of Fluoride in Dental Health
Cavity Prevention
Beyond helping to achieve the proper development of teeth, the primary benefit of fluoride in dental health is the prevention of cavities which are formed as a result of tooth decay.
Tooth decay occurs when acid (present in foods and beverages and produced by the harmful bacteria inside the mouth) breaks down the molecular structures of tooth enamel. The earliest signs of tooth decay are soft spots that can be fully reversed with fluoride which helps to remineralize and strengthen the surfaces of the teeth. By reversing early tooth decay, fluoride helps to prevent cavities from forming.
Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity can occur for several reasons, but fluoride can help to reduce sensitivity that occurs as a result of tooth decay or even as a result of receding gum tissues.
How to Get Fluoride
There are two primary ways to access and benefit from fluoride:
- Ingested Fluoride - Fluoride occurs naturally in a variety of foods. It can also be obtained in fluoride supplements and in the water of certain cities because many cities add it to the water throughout their water treatment processes. Ingested fluoride helps support the healthy development of teeth in young children. Additionally, ingested fluoride becomes present in a person's saliva which washes over the teeth, helping to remineralize them.
- Topical Fluoride - Topical fluoride is applied to the surfaces of the teeth. It can be found in a variety of dental care products such as toothpaste, rinses, and mouthwash. It can also be applied in greater concentrations with professional fluoride treatments provided by a dentist. At the dentist's office, these treatments come in the form of gels, foams, and varnishes that contain medical-grade concentrations of fluoride. Topical fluoride applied to the teeth helps to remineralize tooth enamel to prevent cavities.
Our dentist can help you determine the right amount of fluoride for maintaining dental health in you or your child.
Professional Fluoride Treatment and Comprehensive Preventive Care With our Bloomington Dentist
At Liberty Family Dentistry, we place a strong emphasis on preventative dental care, aiming to help our patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health through good oral hygiene and cavity prevention. We recommend professional fluoride treatment applications for all of our patients with natural teeth. These treatments can help reverse the early stages of tooth decay, prevent cavities, reduce sensitivity, and improve oral health overall.
To learn more about the role of fluoride in dental care or to request a consultation with a dentist in Bloomington, we welcome you to contact our office today.