Were you aware of the fact that your teeth have a built-in defense system to prevent itself from cavities and tooth decay?
This defense system is known as enamel – the hard substance that acts as a protective layer, covering the surface of your teeth. However, if you don’t take good care of your oral health, bacteria can nibble away the enamel over a course of time.
To keep your enamel strong, you need to take fluoride treatments regularly. Not only will this treatment strengthen the enamel, but also counters tooth decay.
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral that is present in food and water naturally. On a daily basis, these minerals are supplied and taken away from our tooth's enamel primarily via two processes: demineralization and re-mineralization.
Demineralization takes place when the minerals are lost from the tooth's enamel layer when certain acids (resulting from the reaction between plaque and sugars in the mouth) assault the enamel. Then, the minerals such as fluoride, calcium, and phosphate are deposited back through re-mineralization to the enamel layer from our food and water intake. However, when the demineralization takes place more often than remineralization, the eventual result is tooth decay.
When Can Fluoride Treatments Really Benefit You?
Fluoride treatments are extremely important for infants and children that fall within the age bracket of 6 months to 16 years. This is because it is this time duration which the primary and permanent teeth erupt. However, it goes without saying that adults gain from fluoride treatments as well.
According to research, fluoride present in the toothpastes, mouth washes, and dedicated fluoride treatments are equally important in combating tooth decay.
Here are some instances when fluoride treatments can benefit you tremendously:
- Dry Mouth Conditions
The medical term for this condition is xerostomia. This condition is most commonly caused by Sjogren’s syndrome, use of allergy medications, anti-anxiety pills, high blood pressure medications, and head and neck radiation etc. As a result, the person suffers from tooth decay, and even tooth loss because the lack of saliva makes it difficult for food particles to wash away, and the acids to neutralize.
- Gum Disease
When suffering from periodontitis, a fluoride treatment can help you recover to a great extent. Typically, gum diseases make our teeth and gums more vulnerable, escalating the chances of tooth decay.
- History of Cavities
If you have long suffered from cavities and get infected by it at least once every year, fluoride treatment can help you combat this dental problem with visible results.
The Best Way to Get Fluoride Treatment
While you may be using toothpastes consisting of fluoride or fluoride gels at home, you will see remarkable results only when you get a proper fluoride treatment from your dentist. During this treatment, your dentist will fill up the mouth guard with some flavored fluoride and then place it in your mouth.
For best results, make sure you wear the mouth guard for at least 4 minutes. Your dentist will then take the guard out, and wash out your mouth thoroughly. For optimum results, avoid eating, drinking or smoking for at least half an hour after the treatment.
Do you want sparkling white teeth as strong as steel? If yes, don’t miss out on regular fluoride treatments. The dentists at Advanced Dental Center provide exceptional fluoride treatments, assuring the best oral healthcare for people in Germantown. They also offer denture cleaning and same day denture care in Germantown, MD. To avail their dental services, visit http://www.advanceddentalgermantown.com/ now!