
Prescription fluoride treatments
- Prevident toothpaste and mouth rinses have a higher concentration of fluoride and can be prescribed by your dentist.
- Clinpro 5000 toothpaste has both a higher concentration of fluoride, as well as Tri-Calcium Phosphate. ...
- MI PastePlus is a paste that you rub on your teeth twice a day. It contains fluoride as well as Recaldent. ...
Does fluoride really help your teeth?
Mar 16, 2022 · Fluoride is a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay (dental caries) by fighting acid-producing bacteria that turn into plaque. Found in many foods and water, fluoride also strengthens and protects tooth enamel to keep teeth strong and healthy.
How does fluoride protect my teeth and make them strong?
Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that helps rebuild tooth enamel and reverse early signs of tooth decay. Your body takes in fluoride in two ways: systemically and topically. Systemic fluorides are swallowed, including fluoridated water (most tap …
Is the fluoride treatment at the dentist really worth it?
Mar 13, 2018 · Fluoride is a natural mineral that builds strong teeth and prevents cavities. It’s been an essential oral health treatment for decades. Fluoride …
Why is fluoride so beneficial for teeth?
Jan 21, 2021 · Fluoride treatment is a simple and preventive way of teeth treatment which is done in a single-session appointment by applying the fluoride onto the teeth in order to increase the decay resistance of the teeth.

Is fluoride treatment good for your teeth?
Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. It also reverses early decay.Jul 29, 2021
How long does fluoride treatment last?
In general, patients are advised to wait 30 minutes after a fluoride treatment before eating or drinking. This 30-minutes allows time for the fluoride treatment to seal to the teeth. Additionally, you may want to think more about what you are eating after a fluoride treatment.
How long should fluoride stay on teeth?
To stay on the side of caution, you should wait for 6 hours before brushing or flossing your teeth. When you wait for 6 hours or longer, the fluoride will cover and protect your teeth better.
Do fluoride treatments do anything?
A fluoride treatment will attack the bacteria causing the decay, slowing its progress and in many cases actually reversing the process. An application from your dentist may only take a short time, but the long-term benefits of a regular fluoride treatment are enormous.
How long does fluoride take to work?
Some professional fluoride treatments require a waiting period of 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything. Fluoride varnishes adhere to the teeth for hours, and no waiting period is required. You may eat or drink immediately following its application.
How does fluoride work?
When fluorine, which is negatively charged, meets a positively-charged ion like sodium, cavity fighters are born. When these fluoride compounds are in your mouth, they can actually make your teeth stronger and prevent cavities. They can even reverse early tooth decay.
What happens if you eat after fluoride?
Eating Right After Dental Cleaning Hot or cold foods could have more effect than they usually would, and crunchy foods may also not feel great on your gums. This is a normal reaction. Teeth and gums can be more sensitive than normal immediately following a cleaning.
Does fluoride darken teeth?
Excessive fluoride either from environmental sources (naturally high fluoride levels in water) or from excessive use (fluoride applications, rinses, toothpaste, and fluoride supplements taken by mouth) can cause teeth discoloration.Sep 8, 2020
Do I need fluoride?
Yes, it is specifically important for infants and children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years to be exposed to fluoride. It becomes incorporated into the development of permanent teeth, making it difficult for acids to demineralize teeth. But it's still very important to continue to use it as an adult.Dec 16, 2020
Why is fluoride important for teeth?
Tooth enamel is the outer protective layer of each tooth. Fluoride is especially helpful if you’re at high risk of developing dental caries, or cavities.
How to get fluoride?
You can get fluoride two ways: topically from toothpaste and treatments at the dentist. systemically in water and dietary supplements. According to the ADA, it’s best to get fluoride both topically and systemically. So, you still need to use fluoride toothpaste, even if your local water is boosted by added fluoride.
What is the best source of fluoride?
dry mouth, or decreased saliva. weak enamel. Common sources of dietary fluoride include: tea. water. food cooked in water. fish eaten with their bones. infant formula. Optimal fluoride intake comes from food, water, and supplements.
How old should a child be to brush their teeth?
If your child is under 3 years old, they should only brush their teeth with close supervision. Apply only a thin layer of fluoride toothpaste to their toothbrush. The toothpaste should cover less than half of the bristles or be no bigger than a grain of rice.
What is the purpose of fluoride?
Fluoride is a natural mineral that prevents cavities. It restores minerals to tooth enamel and prevents harmful bacteria from building up in the mouth. Overdosing on fluoride can cause negative complications.
Is fluoride in toothpaste?
Before fluoride was added to toothpaste, studies found that people with fluoridated water were 40 to 60 percent less likely to get cavities. The ADA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trusted Source. recommend trace amounts of fluoride be present in drinking water.
Is fluoride good for children?
Fluoride benefits both children and adults. The earlier children are exposed to fluoride, the less likely they are to develop cavities. A large study found that children and adolescents who received fluoride treatments for one year were 43 percent. less likely to have tooth decay and cavities.
Is too much acid in your mouth bad for you?
There are detrimental effects when there is too much acidity in your mouth and this acidity is harmful especially for children. The produced acid in your mouth can damage the structure of the te eth (like calcium and phosphorus) and weakens the te eth.
Can fluoride be used at home?
If your teeth are in bad tooth decay conditions, the fluoride gel is prescribed to be used regularly at home. These bad habits and situations can increase the risk of tooth decay:
How does fluoride affect teeth?
In children under 6 years of age, fluoride becomes incorporated into the development of permanent teeth, making it difficult for acids to demineralize the teeth. Fluoride also helps speed remineralization as well as disrupts acid production in already erupted teeth of both children and adults.
What are the benefits of fluoride treatment?
In addition, people with certain conditions may be at increased risk of tooth decay and would therefore benefit from additional fluoride treatment. They include people with: 1 Dry mouth conditions: Also called xerostomia, dry mouth caused by diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome, certain medications (such as allergy medications, antihistamines, anti anxiety drugs, and high blood pressure drugs ), and head and neck radiation treatment makes someone more prone to tooth decay. The lack of saliva makes it harder for food particles to be washed away and acids to be neutralized. 2 Gum disease: Gum disease, also called periodontitis, can expose more of your tooth and tooth roots to bacteria increasing the chance of tooth decay. Gingivitis is an early stage of periodontitis. 3 History of frequent cavities: If you have one cavity every year or every other year, you might benefit from additional fluoride. 4 Presence of crowns and/or bridges or braces: These treatments can put teeth at risk for decay at the point where the crown meets the underlying tooth structure or around the brackets of orthodontic appliances.
What is the cause of tooth decay?
The lack of saliva makes it harder for food particles to be washed away and acids to be neutralized. Gum disease: Gum disease, also called periodontitis, can expose more of your tooth and tooth roots to bacteria increasing the chance of tooth decay. Gingivitis is an early stage of periodontitis.
Where can I find fluoride?
As mentioned, fluoride is found in foods and in water. It can also be directly applied to the teeth through fluoridated toothpastes and mouth rinses. Mouth rinses containing fluoride in lower strengths are available over-the-counter; stronger concentrations require a doctor's prescription.
How much fluoride is removed from water?
Reverse osmosis systems remove between 65% and 95% of the fluoride. On the other hand, water softeners and charcoal/carbon filters generally do not remove fluoride. One exception: some activated carbon filters contain activated alumina that may remove over 80% of the fluoride.
Does fluoride help with tooth decay?
Too much demineralization without enough remineralization to repair the enamel layer leads to tooth decay. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. It also reverses early decay.
Is fluoride good for teeth?
This is the timeframe during which the primary and permanent teeth come in. However, adults benefit from fluoride, too. New research indicates that topical fluoride -- from toothpastes, mouth rinses, and fluoride treatments -- are as important in fighting tooth decay as in strengthening developing teeth.
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral found in the teeth and bones. It also naturally occurs in water, plants, soil, rocks, and even the air. Fluoride is commonly used to strengthen the outer layer of the teeth, known as the enamel.
What is a fluoride treatment?
Fluoride treatments at the dentist involve professional application of fluoride directly to the teeth. The mineral can be applied in various forms, including foam, gel, and varnish.
Author
Many people have heard of one or more teeth being “impacted,” especially when it comes to wisdom teeth in young adults. These teeth linger below the surface of your gums, and they are intended to emerge from the gum tissue.But, for one reason or another, they can’t.
Who Needs Fluoride Treatment?
Each day your teeth lose essential minerals through a process known as demineralization. This happens when you have eaten sugary foods and bacteria release acids to digest the food debris. Then the acid that is produced attacks your enamel. However, when you brush your teeth and floss regularly, you can control the effects of these acids.
How Is Fluoride Applied?
When you need fluoride treatment, our cosmetic dentist near you will only take 30 minutes of your time. Highly concentrated fluoride varnish will be applied to your teeth using a brush, tray, or swab. After 30 minutes, your teeth should have absorbed the fluoride.
What Foods Should You Eat or Avoid After Fluoride Treatment?
After fluoride has been applied, our dentist in Highlands Ranch, CO, will list foods that you should avoid and provide other care tips.
Other Recommendations
Besides following the above recommendations, our cosmetic dentist near you suggest you do the following:
